LONG BEACH TOURNAMENT : 49ers Play Poor Hosts to Brooklyn

Cal State Long Beach discovered Friday night that there’s nothing like a rout, even against a team that has lost 38 consecutive road games, to restore confidence.

“This is the best I’ve felt about this team since the second week of practice,” Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg said after the 49ers broke a three-game losing streak by defeating Brooklyn College, 85-56, before 1,351 in the Long Beach Arena.

“It’s hard not to lose confidence when you get hammered,” Greenberg said, referring to losses this month to Arizona and Syracuse, “but our kids are having a good time again.”

The 49ers, winning easily for the first time this season, improved to 3-5. Their previous victories, both unimpressive, were against Chicago State and Cal State Northridge.

A good first half was all Long Beach needed. The 49ers erased a 12-10 deficit with 14 consecutive points to lead, 24-12, with 7:26 left in the half, and went on to a comfortable 43-21 lead at intermission.

Lucious Harris, starting for the first time at point guard, scored six points during the 14-0 surge.

Brooklyn, which has not won on the road since 1987, went six minutes without scoring and had only nine points in the last 13 minutes of the half.

“We took them out of their offense,” Greenberg said. “The first 18 minutes we played pretty good defense.”

The Kingsmen (4-7) had been giving up an average of 68 points. Not accustomed to the 49ers’ fast-paced style, they made 26 turnovers and could get no closer than 20 points in the second half.

“I didn’t think they were a threat to get back in the game because they play so methodically,” Greenberg said.

Brooklyn Coach Ron Kestenbaum said, “We wanted to play a half-court game, they made it a full-court game. We were concerned with their quickness and athletic ability. We gave them too many second shots.”

Long Beach had 27 offensive rebounds--seven by Frankie Edwards.

The 49ers, who had been shooting 39%, shot 44% for the game and 50% in the first half.

“We were relaxed,” Greenberg said. “We moved the ball better and got better shots.”

Harris made eight of 21 shots from the field but finished with a game-high 20 points, four below his average.

Kevin Cutler added 13 points and Troy Joseph had 11. In reserve roles, Ronnie Winbush made three three-pointers and Chris Tower, a 6-foot-10 transfer from New Mexico, had seven points and four rebounds in his Long Beach debut.

Brenton Birmingham led Brooklyn with 19 points.