Long Beach Is Too Much for Pomona

Cal Poly Pomona tried to run with Long Beach State on Wednesday night, and for the first seven or eight minutes the Broncos were able to keep up.

Then Long Beach pulled away against its Division II opponent. The 49ers went on a 38-19 runover the final 13 minutes of the first half and the first three minutes of the second and finished with a 96-63 victory in the campus gym.

“What we wanted to do is give a number of people a chance to play a lot of minutes and work on some things,” Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg said.

Greenberg had that opportunity.

Long Beach (4-1), which plays at UCLA on Saturday, led by as many as 36 points in the second half. Forward Rod Hannibal, who had made only four of 21 three-point attempts entering the game, made three of five Wednesday. He led all scorers with 20 points on eight-of-12 shooting.

Forward Mike Atkinson added 15 points and center Terrance O’Kelley had 11 rebounds.

Guard Joe Jennum scored 14 points for Pomona (3-5). Forward Curtis Bell had 12 and guard Matt Mitchell had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

A layin by guard Brandon Bryce pulled Pomona within two points, 17-15, with 12:32 to go in the half.

A three-point basket by Juaquin Hawkins gave Long Beach some breathing room and the defense toughened as the 49ers pulled away.