Long Beach Beats Australia in Exhibition Game, 91-88

Cal State Long Beach survived a late rally to defeat the Australian national team, 91-88, in an exhibition basketball game Monday night in the Long Beach gym.

Kevin Cutler, a 6-foot-8 forward and one of eight new 49ers who played in the game, led Long Beach with 22 points and 14 rebounds.

The 49ers, who trailed at halftime, 50-46, had an 87-73 lead late in the game. But Australia, which defeated Loyola Marymount, 117-104, Saturday, scored 13 consecutive points to cut the lead to 87-86.

Troy Joseph got a rebound and scored to make it 89-86 with 1:24 left, and Kenny Jarvis then made two free throws with 35 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach.

Australia, which made eight three-point shots in the first half but only four in the second half, was led by one-time Seton Hall star Andrew Gaze, who scored a game-high 35 points.

“I was impressed with our enthusiasm and aggressiveness,” Long Beach Coach Joe Harrington said. “We played some solid basketball at times and at other times we looked like a team with a lot of new players.”

Twelve players scored for the 49ers. Joseph and Kevin Williams each had 12 points.