Long Beach State Beats Fresno, 67-60

In the face of Fresno State’s desperate rally to catch up, Cal State Long Beach put on an impressive free-throw shooting show and defeated the Bulldogs, 67-60, Thursday night in the university gym.

The 49ers, who normally make 66% of their free throws, shot 80% in the final 10 minutes. They scored their last 16 points from the line.

Long Beach made only five field goals in the second half.

“An ugly win,” said Coach Ron Palmer.

But it was a significant one for the third-year coach. This was his first victory in five tries against Fresno. And for the first time under Palmer the 49ers have won two straight games in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn.

The 49ers (7-8 overall and 2-1 in the PCAA) never trailed, but their lead, which was once 13, was in constant jeopardy.

Fresno (6-8 and 1-2) came back behind the shooting of Jervis Cole and Mike Mitchell.

Cole, who scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half, hit a jump shot with 5:49 to play cut the lead to 56-54.

After that, Long Beach still was unable to score from the field, but went to the line almost every time down the court.

“In the past, we’ve stepped to the line with the opportunity to win a game and let it slip through our fingers,” Palmer said.

Morlon Wiley led Long Beach with 16 points, followed by DeAnthony Langston with 15.