CS Long Beach Loses to Pacific, Drops to Fourth

Back in December, when University of the Pacific opened with four losses in its first five games, it came as no surprise. Preseason polls said the Tigers would struggle to make it into the Big West Conference tournament.

What a difference a couple of months has made.

Forward Michael Jackson tied a career high with 19 points, including two baskets in the final 1:18 to lead the Tigers to a 69-66 victory over Cal State Long Beach in the 49ers’ campus gym Saturday night.

The Tigers (16-10, 12-6) took third place in the conference regular season race, while Long Beach (19-9, 11-7), once 5-2 in the conference, fell to fourth.

After midseason victories over Nevada Las Vegas and then top-ranked Kansas, Long Beach seemed ensured of an NCAA tournament berth. But the 49ers closed the season 11-9.

“We’ll have to win the conference tournament to get a berth now,” said 49er guard Lucious Harris, who was held to 14 points, about 10 under his average.

Pacific beat the 49ers, 68-56, in Stockton on Jan. 4. Saturday night, the Tigers beat the 49ers for only the third time in Long Beach. Pacific finished with its best record since 1978, when it was 17-10.

The 49ers made only 13 of 22 free throws and shot only 41.1%, including seven of 23 three-point attempts.

Pacific trailed by nine points with less than six minutes to play, but Jackson capped the comeback with the go-ahead basket for a 67-66 lead with 1:18 to play.

Harris missed a three-point attempt, and Pacific controlled, running the clock down to 22 seconds. Point guard Chuck Terrell, a converted off-guard, drove the key and passed to his right along the baseline to Jackson, who made a 10-footer.

Long Beach missed three three-point attempts in the final nine seconds.

The Big West Conference tournament will begin Friday at the Long Beach Arena.