Long Beach St. Isn’t Half Bad in a 75-61 Win

Having not lost since Dec. 4 and off to its best conference start in 23 seasons, Long Beach State was due for a letdown.

Thursday night, the 49ers played with little emotion, had no offensive rhythm and were unorganized, outrebounded and out hustled throughout the first 30 minutes against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. But they rebounded in the second half and won, 75-61, before 2,344 at the Pyramid.

In doing so, the 49ers, 13-3 overall and 5-0 in the Big West Conference, extended their winning streak to 11, tied for sixth longest in school history.

The streak looked as if it was history in the first half.

The Mustangs (6-11, 1-4) outrebounded the 49ers, 22-15, and had a 34-29 lead at the half.

And Long Beach State was doing as much to hurt itself as it was to help, committing nearly as many turnovers (10) as field goals (11).

“We didn’t play well in the first half. But I don’t think any basketball team can play [at its best] for 40 consecutive halves,” Coach Wayne Morgan said. “You have to make adjustments. We were able to make adjustments and win it.”

The 49ers dominated the rebounding in the second half, 23-8, and shot 53%.

Leading the comeback were forward Rudy Williams, who had a career-high 23 points and 11 rebounds, and guard Ron Johnson, who added 12 points.

Johnson started in place of point guard Charles O’Neal, who left the team last week. O’Neal was allowed back on the team earlier this week, but did not play Thursday.

It was Johnson’s hustle that seemed to get the 49ers charged, and one sequence in particular changed the game.

With the score tied, 47-47, and 9:38 to play, the 6-foot-1 sophomore sprang over a crowd after a miss and slammed in the rebound.

On Long Beach’s next possession, Johnson passed inside to Williams, then stole the ball near midcourt and scored on a layup. The 49ers had a 53-47 lead with 8:56 left and never trailed again.