Cal State Long Beach Gets Even for the Season in 59-50 Win Over Pacific

As usual, there were no great individual scoring efforts, but Cal State Long Beach won another game Saturday night.

No 49er scored more than 11 points, but almost every 49er did something positive at important times as Long Beach defeated University of the Pacific, 59-50, in the university gym.

It was the third straight Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. victory for the 49ers and put them alone in second place with a 3-1 record.

Long Beach is now 8-8 overall and has won one more game than it did last season.

“Most of them had their moments,” said Long Beach Coach Ron Palmer of his players.

DeAnthony Langston and Tony Ronzone each scored 11 points--all of Langston’s were in the second half and 9 of Ronzone’s were in the first half.

But there were several other key contributors.

John Hatten, who alternates at center with Langston, had seven rebounds.

Guard Billy Walker had five assists and three steals.

Forward Rigo Moore made four of five field-goal attempts in the second half.

And Rudy Harvey, a high-jumping freshman, leaped for an offensive rebound and then scored with 9:08 left after Pacific had cut the lead to 40-38.

After that, the Tigers never got within two again. In the last 1:41, Langston made 5 of 6 free throws to assure the victory.

Pacific center Brent Counts, who scored 21 points, kept the game close throughout. But the Tigers, 6-7 and 2-2, shot only 36% from the field.

Long Beach had its usual poor-shooting (33%) first half, but came back to shoot 56% in the second half.

That improvement, Palmer said, was because of better shot selection that resulted from better passing.