Long Beach State Reaches Final

Mike Atkinson scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half Friday to lead Long Beach State to a 77-67 first-round victory over Houston in the Hawkeye Invitational.

The 49ers (3-0), who also got 13 points each by Juaquin Hawkins and James Cotton and 12 from Brian Camper, advanced to today’s championship game against host Iowa (2-0), a 104-77 winner over Lehigh. Houston (1-2), led by Rafael Carrasco’s 13 points and 12 apiece by Jessie Drain and Lloyd Wiles, will play Lehigh (1-2) in the consolation game.

Rod Hannibal scored two consecutive baskets to cap an 11-2 run to open the second half and give Long Beach a 44-33 lead with 16:28 remaining. But Houston went on an 18-7 run, capped by Angel Sanz’s driving layup, to forge a 51-51 tie with 10:41 to play.

Long Beach answered with an 11-5 run to put Houston away.