Long Beach Gets Scare, Then a Win

Long Beach State men’s basketball Coach Larry Reynolds got his first Division I victory Tuesday night, but it was hardly worth celebrating.

The 49ers got a scare from Cal State Monterey Bay -- the same NAIA Division II team they had feasted on in two previous meetings -- before pulling away late for an 84-73 victory in their home opener before 1,581 at the Pyramid.

Guard Tony Darden scored a game-high 26 points and forward Kevin Roberts added 16 for Long Beach (1-1), which bounced back from a 28-point loss at Charlotte on Friday night. But Monterey Bay (1-4) was as close as 65-63 with 5 minutes 22 seconds remaining.

Long Beach had won the other two games against Monterey Bay by a combined 105 points.

“I think everyone expects to blow out this team, but I’ve been at that level before and those kids play hard and play aggressively,” Reynolds said. “This was a big game for them.”

There were some positives. The 49ers cut their turnovers from 34 at Charlotte to 13 on Tuesday. They made 20 of 26 free throws, including two by Roberts with 51.6 seconds left to clinch the win. Reserve forward Antoine Jackson had 12 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes.

But the Otters, who have lost to The Master’s and Dominican University, hung around for most of the game behind their 50.9% shooting and nine three-point baskets. Point guard Antoine Griffin had 19 points and seven assists.