When UNLV Came to Town

The Long Beach Arena was nearly filled Monday night with 12,007 fans, most of whom came to see Nevada Las Vegas, which is being called the greatest college basketball team in history.

The top-ranked Runnin’ Rebels lived up to their rave notices by pounding Cal State Long Beach, 122-75, scoring uncontested dunks and layups with astonishing ease.

The 49ers were almost as thoroughly beaten as they were when they lost to the Rebels, 114-63, last month in Las Vegas, but Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg didn’t look at it that way. “I had a sick feeling after the last game against them,” he said, “but I don’t have a sick feeling now.”

The crowd was the second largest in 49er history, but there will be a different atmosphere in the arena tonight, when perhaps 2,000 will watch the 49ers (9-14) play UC Santa Barbara.

With four games left, the 49ers are in danger of not qualifying for the Big West Conference’s postseason tournament in their own arena. And if they do make it by finishing eighth in the 10-team league, they would have to face the rather sickening prospect of playing UNLV for a third time.