Long Beach Wins Without Incident

No incidents, no arguments--no worries. Finally, basketball was the main topic discussed after a game between Long Beach State and New Mexico State.

On-court behavior defined an exciting evening for Long Beach State and its fans Saturday night as the 49ers raced to their sixth consecutive Big West Conference victory, 73-57, over New Mexico State in front of 4,843 at the Pyramid. Long Beach State’s streak began after it lost to New Mexico State on Jan. 22 at Las Cruces, N.M.

During that game, an anti-Semitic epithet directed at Long Beach State Coach Seth Greenberg, who is Jewish, was discovered in the visitors’ locker room at the Pan American Center. And Greenberg alleges his African-American players were the object of racial slurs by spectators during the game. What’s more, Greenberg said he was angered by comments made by New Mexico State officials about that night’s events.

One big mess. However, Greenberg and Aggie Coach Neil McCarthy said the incident didn’t intrude on this game.

“I don’t think it was a factor,” Greenberg said. “We were playing for something much more important overall than that. The issue itself is something that was addressed.

“I told the kids before the game that this had nothing to do with what transpired in Las Cruces. This game had everything to do with the fact that we have seven games left and we have to continue to play good basketball.”

The first-place 49ers (14-7, 9-3 in conference) played without standout guard James Cotton. The Big West’s leading scorer who averages 20.4 points, Cotton sat out the game because of a severe stomach problem, Long Beach State officials said.

“Hey, this was an opportunity for other people,” said Greenberg, who is unsure if Cotton will be available for Monday’s game against UC Irvine at the Pyramid. “We have confidence in all our guys, it’s just that you have to make decisions on playing time.”

Point guard Rasul Salahuddin scored 14 points for Long Beach State. Salahuddin, who leads the Big West in steals, had a career-high nine steals and eight assists. Forwards Juaquin Hawkins and Akeli Jackson also scored 14 apiece.

“We were embarrassed at their place the last time,” Hawkins said. “We all wanted to come out and make a statement. That’s what we did, and we want to keep doing that for the rest of the season.”

Hawkins, who many coaches consider the Big West’s best defender, watched the game in Las Cruces from the bench because of a sprained left ankle. Aggie forward Enoch Davis, who Hawkins would have guarded, scorched the 49ers for a career-high 33 points.

With Hawkins applying the clamps, Davis scored eight points Saturday night. Hawkins denied him the ball much of the game, as he finished with only seven field-goal attempts.

“I took it as a personal challenge,” Hawkins said. “I wanted to hold him to under 10 points and I did.”

The Aggies couldn’t keep pace with the 49ers’ defensive intensity.

The 49ers, sparked by their 1-3-1 zone defense, took a 21-5 lead with 13:03 remaining in the first half. They closed out the Aggies (8-13, 5-8) with their most impressive defensive run of the season, scoring eight points in the final 52 seconds of the half--all on fast-break layups and dunks after steals. That pushed a 33-24 lead to a 41-24 halftime advantage.

“That was one of our best defensive [stands] all year,” Salahuddin said. “We were denying the passing lanes and pushing the ball. Wow.”

Said Greenberg: “It doesn’t get much better than that.”

McCarthy had a different perspective, but was nonetheless impressed.

“That was a beauty, wasn’t it?” McCarthy questioned sarcastically. “I haven’t seen anything like that in a while--five straight turnovers. Unbelievable.”

Guard Keith Torian led the Aggies with 11 points. He was the only player in double figures.