CS Long Beach Hits Jackpot in Win Over UNLV

Morlon Wiley completed a frenzied Cal State Long Beach comeback by making two free throws with one second left to give the 49ers a 79-77 victory over fifth-ranked Nevada Las Vegas Thursday night.

It was the 49ers’ first victory over Las Vegas since the 1980-81 season. They had lost 14 straight games to the Runnin’ Rebels.

“I asked God for another chance in that situation, and it happened,” said Wiley as he was mobbed by teammates and Long Beach fans before a shocked Thomas and Mack Center crowd of 18,310.

Wiley had missed two free throws late in the 49ers’ 71-68 loss to Las Vegas in January.

“We got some breaks; this was my lucky day,” said Long Beach Coach Joe Harrington, who won a $3,211 slot-machine jackpot Thursday afternoon.

The 49ers are 17-9 overall and 11-6 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. Las Vegas, which has lost three games at home this season, is 25-4 and 14-3.

As Wiley prepared to shoot his free throws, Harrington walked along the 49er bench, thinking about the consequences of a victory.

“I thought here was a senior playing one of his last games and with a chance to make history for the school and the program,” Harrington said.

When Gerald Paddio hit a jumper with Wiley closely guarding him with 1:24 to play, Las Vegas led, 77-72.

But then, despite the roaring crowd, the 49ers came back as they had done throughout the game.

Wiley sank a three-pointer to make it 77-75.

A lane violation wiped out a Jarvis Basnight free throw with 42 seconds left.

The 49ers then made two mistakes that appeared would cost them the game. DeAnthony Langston was called for traveling with 27 seconds left, but the 49ers immediately forced the Rebels into their 24th turover.

That fresh chance, however, ended when Billy Walker was called for a five-second violation with 16 seconds to go.

The Rebels’ Karl James missed the front end of a one-on-one opportunity with 14 seconds to go. Long Beach raced down the court, and Rigo Moore, who had made only one of 10 shots, hit a one-hander in the lane to tie it, 77-77, with three seconds remaining.

Trying to inbound the ball after a timeout, Basnight passed the length of the court and over Stacey Augmon’s head.

Wiley then inbounded beneath the 49er basket to Purry, who gave it back to Wiley, who attempted a baseline jumper. It missed, but he was fouled by Augmon.

Referee Dave Libbey, the season-long adversary of Harrington, made the call.

“We totally gave it away,” Las Vegas Coach Jerry Tarkanian said. “We just didn’t play smart. Long Beach played a tremendous game. They came in here to beat us and never quit.”

Wiley led the 49ers with 22 points. Andre Purry and Langston each had 16.

Paddio scored 22 for Las Vegas, who for the second time this season couldn’t handle the 49ers’ press, although Tarkanian had promised the Rebels would be better prepared this time.

Except for one shaky four-minute stretch in which they went scoreless, the 49ers were at the top of their game in the first half.

They stayed out of foul trouble for one of the few times this season, and their aggressive defense forced 11 Rebel turnovers. Offensively they hurt Las Vegas inside and outside.

The main attacker was Purry, who scored 13 points, including three 3-pointers from the corners.

Paddio, Karl James and Keith James each hit two 3-pointers for the Rebels, who also used strong offensive rebounding to build leads of 28-22 and 35-30.

The 49ers came back from both of those deficits and when John Hatten put in a one-hander from the base line as time ran out, they had a 38-37 halftime lead.