LONG BEACH – After a come-from-behind victory over Loyola Marymount last week, Long Beach State basketball coach Dan Monson said his team was beginning to develop an identity.
However, after Monday night’s 64-59 nonconference loss to Fresno State at Walter Pyramid, the only thing Monson was developing was a migraine.
“We took a big step back tonight and that’s going to happen with a new group like this,” Monson said. “We have too many new parts and new roles. Who we are will be determined on how we play in January and February.
“We got frustrated — we have to create points off our defense. We left a lot of points out there in the first half. It’s a tough lesson.”
Fresno State point guard Tyler Johnson made 8 of 14 shots from the field and scored a career-high 19 points as the Bulldogs avenged a loss to the 49ers eight days ago and snapped a four-game losing streak to the 49ers.
Long Beach State played a lackluster second half after leading, 31-25, at the break. The Bulldogs took advantage of the 49ers sloppy play and grabbed a 40-39 lead on a 3-pointer by Johnson with 14:51 to play.
Fresno State continued to be the aggressor as they forged ahead, 53-46, on a 3-pointer by Kevin Olekaibe with 7:22 left.
Deng Deng (11 points) hit two free throws to pull the 49ers to 57-54 with 2:26 to play, but Allen Huddleston drilled a 3-pointer on the Bulldogs’ next possession to make it 60-54. Mike Caffey then committed a turnover and Johnson’s dunk gave the 62-54 lead with 1:29 remaining.
Long Beach State was led by James Ennis, who recorded career-highs in points (23) and rebounds (13).
Peter Pappageorge, after scoring a career-high 23 points against the Bulldogs in their first meeting, missed all four of his shots and did not score in 34 minutes.
Caffey made only 3 of 11 shots and missed 7 of 10 free throws. He finished with 9 points but committed six turnovers.
The 49ers shot a dismal 29.6 percent (8-27), including 0-7 from behind the arc, in the second half, missed 15 free throws and had 15 turnovers in the game.
“We did not smell blood in the second half and we let down and they took advantage,” Ennis said.
Late in the half, Caffey, Deng and Nick Shepard hit baskets to put some life into Long Beach State and propel the 49ers to a 31-25 halftime lead.
The 49ers won’t have much time to sulk as they embark later this week on perhaps their most difficult trip of the season. Long Beach State travels to No. 4 Syracuse for a Thursday game and then to No. 7 Ohio State on Saturday.
NOTES
Thursday’s game against Syracuse will be broadcast on ESPN2. …The 49ers will play in the 2013-14 Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament next November. They will join a field of eight teams that includes Auburn, Charlotte, Florida State, Georgetown, Kansas State, Michigan and VCU. … Fresno State leads the all-time series against Long Beach 42-35. … The Bulldogs are in their first season as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The MWC holds the best record (52-11) among Division I conferences in the nation in non-conference games. … A hydraulics system failure prevented the west side bleachers of the Walter Pyramid from being deployed until about 30 minutes before Monday’s game started.
