PCAA Basketball : Struggling 49ers to Meet No. 1 Rebels

For Cal State Long Beach, a basketball team that needs a victory, this may not be the best time to play the No. 1 team in the country.

But the struggling 49ers have no choice but to take on Nevada Las Vegas in a Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. game tonight at 7 at the Long Beach Arena.

After three straight losses and six in their last eight games, the 49ers are in danger of missing the eight-team PCAA tournament for the third straight season.

Long Beach, 12-14 overall and 7-7 in the PCAA, is in a three-way tie for second place but only 1 1/2 games from ninth. And after tonight, the 49ers will play their last three games on the road.

The Rebels (26-1, 14-0) had no trouble with the 49ers in a 104-74 victory earlier in the season. They are led by forward Armon Gilliam, averaging 24 points a game, and guard Freddie Banks, averaging 20.8.