Trojans Outlasted by 49ers

USC apparently overextended itself in Tuesday’s game against Kansas, because the Trojans didn’t have enough left for two halves against Long Beach State on Saturday.

They started well against the 49ers, taking a 46-38 lead by halftime, but Long Beach was able to get the ball into the post for easy baskets underneath and rallied to score an 81-71 victory before 4,134 at the Pyramid.

Long Beach center Andrew Betts was the recipient of many of those passes, scoring 31 points, 21 in the second half, to lead the 49ers (4-6).

“This was a very big win for us,” Long Beach Coach Wayne Morgan said. “Clearly, this illustrates that we are a good team. This sends a message . . . that Long Beach basketball is here.”

Maybe so, but the Long Beach offense consisted of little more than lobbing passes to Betts, who had little opposition inside.

After a surprising performance in the narrow loss to the No. 2-ranked Jayhawks, hustling for loose balls, taking the ball inside, the Trojans (4-5) made Betts look like a better center than Kansas preseason All-American Raef LaFrentz.

“The big fellow made a big difference and they were better than we thought they were,” USC Coach Henry Bibby said of Betts. “They hit a couple of baskets and started to smell the win. We stopped playing in the second half and they outplayed us in every category.”

Antrone Lee had 18 points and four rebounds and Quincy Nuckles had 14 points and made all three of his six three-point shots in the second half.

Nuckles made two three-point baskets during the 49ers’ 8-2 run to start the second half.

From then on it was Betts, scoring 12 of the 49ers’ next 14 points. Long Beach went ahead, 65-64, with 7:21 to play when D’Cean Bryant found Jared Frey alone underneath for easy layup.

On their next three possessions, the Trojans were called for a back-court violation, forward Gary Williams shot an airball and was later called for traveling.

Long Beach went on an 8-4 run to go up, 74-68, with 1:17 remaining. With the score, 78-71, and 51 seconds to play, USC was again called for a five-second violation and that sealed the victory for the 49ers.