COLLEGE BASKETBALL : TODAY’S GAMES

MIAMI OF OHIO (5-0) vs. LONG BEACH STATE (3-2)

Time--6:30. Radio--KORG (1190).

This is the first of two games in the Las Vegas Bowl Classic, featuring teams from the Big West and Mid-American conferences, which participate in the Las Vegas Bowl football game, at Nevada Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center. Ball State and UNLV play in the second game. Long Beach has won three consecutive games. The 49ers’ don’t scare teams offensively, but they’re solid defensively. Point guard Rasul Salahuddin is a key factor in Long Beach’s improvement. “He’s really stepped up his intensity,” Coach Seth Greenberg said. “He’s set the attitude for the whole team.” Salahuddin averages 10 points, four assists and three steals. Guard James Cotton leads the team with 17.4 points a game. Center/forward Akeli Jackson is emerging as a force in the post, averaging nine points and team-leading 7.4 rebounds. The 49ers, however, lost guard and sixth man Eric Brown, who was suspended for five games because of a violation of academic policy. He had averaged 7.6 points and 3.2 rebounds. The Redskins are talented and deep. Long Beach has no one to match up with forward Devin Davis, who averages 20 points and 11.5 rebounds. Forward Kevin Beard (10 points, 8.2 rebounds) is tough near the basket.