Long Beach Shakes Off Early Jitters and Steals It From Purdue, 70-69

In their first big game, Cal State Long Beach’s new players looked nervous most of the way Saturday. But in the end, they played like veterans and stole a 70-69 victory from Purdue before 3,655 fans at the Long Beach Arena.

With 10 seconds to play and the 49ers trailing, 69-68, freshman Lucious Harris stole the ball near midcourt and drove for a layup. He missed, but Kenny Jarvis, another new 49er, tipped the ball in with two seconds left.

“We should have been there to get the ball,” Purdue Coach Gene Keady said. “They outhustled us.”

After a timeout, the Boilermakers threw a length-of-the-court pass, but couldn’t get off a shot.

Harris had hit an 18-foot jump shot with 32 seconds remaining to tie the game, 68-68. With 15 seconds left, Long Beach fouled Chuckie White immediately after he had caught an inbounds pass. White made the front end of the one-and-one, then missed the second shot. Purdue, though, got the ball back when Jarvis couldn’t hang onto the rebound.

But Harris knocked the ball away from Rich Mount--a freshman and son of Rick Mount, Purdue’s all-time leading scorer--and the 49ers soon had their first victory over a Big Ten team in 15 years. They lost to Purdue last season by 47 points.

“It made a statement for our program,” said Long Beach Coach Joe Harrington, although he didn’t think that his team (2-0) played that well.

And for much of the first half, the 49ers’ tightness was as conspicuous as their new lime, glow-in-the-dark, “California gold” uniforms. At one point, Long Beach, which shot only 39% in the first half, was behind, 12-3.

“We played like we were afraid we were going to miss,” Harrington said. “Our defense enabled us to stay in the game, especially our pressure.”

Long Beach made 19 turnovers but forced the Boilermakers (2-1) into 22.

Forward Kevin Cutler was one 49er newcomer who didn’t appear bothered by playing for the first time in the 12,000-seat arena against a big-name team. A 6-9 junior from Arizona Western College, he made eight of 14 field goal attempts and led all scorers with 23 points.

Steve Scheffler and Tony Jones led Purdue with 16 points apiece.