Athletic (and Big) Betts Keys Win

The versatility of 7-foot-1 center Andrew Betts and his 29 points helped Long Beach State beat UC Santa Barbara, 71-59, in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game before 2,310 at the Pyramid in Long Beach on Saturday.

It was the second victory this week for the 49ers (10-14, 5-7 in conference play) over the Gauchos (7-15, 4-8).

Santa Barbara tried to collapse on Betts, but he passed when he needed to and made 11 of 17 shots, showing a jump hook and a nice outside shooting touch. His only shortcoming Saturday was a tendency to travel that left him with five of Long Beach State’s nine turnovers.

“He’s a good player, a real good player,” Santa Barbara Coach Jerry Pimm said. “He can shoot free throws, shoot the jumper, and if he can stop traveling, he can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. He’s a good player and he’s got a chance to get to the next level--and if he can get to the NBA, they won’t call that travel.”

Long Beach used an 8-0 run at the end of the second half to break a tie and take a 34-26 halftime lead that grew to as many as 14 points in the second half.

The 49ers’ D’Cean Bryant added 18 points and eight rebounds, and Antrone Lee had an unusual double-double for a point guard, grabbing 10 rebounds to go with his 14 points.

Raymond Tutt led Santa Barbara with 22 points, but the Gauchos shot only 40% and made only three of 14 three-point attempts.

Santa Barbara lost its fourth game in a row, and was also playing its fourth consecutive game without injured forward B.J. Bunton (back spasms), the Gauchos’ second-leading scorer.