March 3, 2008

LONG BEACH, Calif. -

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE RECORDS •49ers Look To Close Out With Wins At Home •Homecoming On Saturday Vs. UCSB

Long Beach State is 6-22 overall and 3-11 in the Big West Conference. Last week the 49ers lost at UC Irvine (64-57) and at Cal State Fullerton (85-51). Long Beach closes out its regular season this week with home games against Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara. Cal Poly is 11-16 overall and 6-8 in the Big West. UCSB is 21-7 overall and 10-4 in the league standings.

THE COACH •Dan Monson In First Year At Long Beach •Career Record Of 176-145 In 10 Years

Dan Monson (Idaho `85) is 6-22 (.214) in his first season as the head coach at Long Beach State. Monson has compiled a 176-145 (.550) record his 11th year as a Division I head coach. He was 52-17 (.754) in two years at Gonzaga, leading the Bulldogs to the Elite Eight in 1999. In eight years at Minnesota he compiled a 118-106 (.527) mark with five post-season appearances.

THE SERIES •LBSU Leads Cal Poly, 32-26 •LBSU Leads UCSB, 52-50

The 49ers lead their series with Cal Poly by a 32-26 margin. The Mustangs won the first meeting this season in San Luis Obispo, 64-52. The win snapped a six-game losing skid to the 49ers. Long Beach leads its series with UCSB by a 52-50 count. The Gauchos won the first meeting this season, 79-64 on January 3 at The Thunderdome. Long Beach has won five of the last six games against UCSB in the Walter Pyramid.

49ERS FALL AT CS FULLERTON •Second Half Drought Leads To Loss

The 49ers could muster up only 23 points in the second half while Cal State Fullerton put up 51 in an 85-51 Titan win on Saturday night. The 49ers were led by Donovan Morris' 25 points, but Long Beach hurt themselves with a season-high 30 turnovers. Fullerton shot .478 (32-67) from the field and were led by Scott Cutley's 25 points and 13 rebounds. Arturas Lazdauskas added eight points, nine rebounds and three assists in the contest.

49ERS DROP TOUGH ONE AT UCI •Williams Records Career-High 19 Points

Donovan Morris scored 25 points, 20 in the second half, and Cornel Williams had a career-high 19 points and 11 rebounds, but the 49ers lost at UC Irvine 64-57 on Thursday night. Long Beach led 24-22 at the half and 38-30 with 14;33 left, but UCI used a 15-2 run to take a 45-40 lead with 10:29 left. Long Beach regained the lead at 55-53 at 4:29 on Morris' fifth three-pointer of the game. Irvine was able to hold the 49ers to just two points the remainder of the game to secure the victory. Patrick Sanders, who scored the last 11 points of the game for the Anteaters, led UCI with 23 points.

CAL POLY FACTS •Mustangs 11-16 On The Season

Cal Poly is 11-16 overall and in sixth place in the Big West standings at 6-8. Last week the Mustangs defeated UC Riverside at home in overtime, 70-63, and then lost at home to Pacific, 68-47. In the UCR victory, Lorenzo Keeler led the way with 22 points and Dreshawn Vance added 17. On the year, guard Trae Clark leads the team in scoring at 10.5 points per game. Keeler is next at 9.8 points per outing. Cal Poly is averaging 63.2 points per game and is shooting .406 from the field. Opponents are averaging 68.5 points and are shooting .443. Cal Poly is shooting just .289 (162-560) from three-point range and are hitting only .654 (331-506) of its free throw attempts. They are last in the conference in both of those categories.

FIRST MEETING WITH CAL POLY •Mustangs Win 64-52

The 49ers fell 64-52 at Cal Poly on January 5 in the team's first meeting of the season. Four players hit double digits for the Mustangs, led by 14 points from Lorenzo Keeler. Donovan Morris had 15 points and eight assists for the 49ers and Greg Plater added 12 points. The 49ers trailed 40-35 with 12:21 left, but Cal Poly used an 11-3 run to take a 51-38 lead at 7:52. Long Beach got not closer than nine points the rest of the game.

UC SANTA BARBARA FACTS •Gauchos In Third Place In Big West

UCSB is 21-7 overall and in third place in the Big West at 10-4. Last week the Gauchos defeated UC Riverside at home, 73-55. In that game James Powell led the way with 24 points, including hitting seven-of-eight three-pointers. Alex Harris added 18 and Ivan Elliott 16. On the year, Harris is averaging 20.1 points per game, a mark which ranks second in the league. Powell checks in at 12.4 points per game and Chris Devine is the third Gaucho in double digits at 12.3. UCSB is averaging 70.2 points per game and is shooting .457 from the field. Gaucho opponents are averaging just 64.0 points per game, the best mark in the Big West defensively.

FIRST MEETING WITH UCSB •Gauchos Won 79-64

Chris Devine had 17 points and Alex Harris and James Powell both added 16 points as UCSB defeated the 49ers 79-64 in the first meeting on January 3. Donovan Morris led the 49er with 19 points and Cornel Williams had 17, but the 49ers committed 22 turnovers to just eight for the Gauchos. Long Beach shot .481 (25-52) from the field and were 9-20 from three-point range. The two teams both grabbed 33 rebounds. UCSB took 15 more shots than the 49ers, 67 to 52, and knocked down six more field goals. UCSB had 23 assists to their eight turnovers.

HOMECOMING ON SATURDAY •49ers Host UCSB

Saturday will be Homecoming on the 49er campus. Festivities will be held on the 49er campus all day long. Game time between Long Beach State and UCSB is 4 pm in the Walter Pyramid. Long Beach has won two of its last three Homecoming games. Last year the 49ers defeated UC Davis, 102-77 and in 2005 the 49ers defeated UCSB, 58-57.

IRON MAN •Morris Leads Big West In Minutes

Junior Donovan Morris has been an "Iron Man" for the 49ers this season. He leads the team, and the Big West Conference, averaging 37.4 minutes played per game. He played all 45 minutes in the 49ers overtime game at Pepperdine and at Hawai'i, at UCSB, at UC Riverside, at home against CS Fullerton, at home vs. UC Irvine and at UC Irvine this past week he played all 40 minutes. All-together, he has been on the court for 1,046 of the 49ers 1,135 minutes of action this season (.922).

30-POINT GAMES •Morris With Four This Season

Junior Donovan Morris has four games this season with 30 or more points. That is the most since the 1992-93 season when Lucious Harris had five games with 30 or more points. Harris accumulated eight games in his 49er career with 30-plus points. That's not the school-record though as Ed Ratleff had 11 games eclipsing the 30-point mark (3 in 1970-71, 4 in 1971-72, 4 in 1972-73). Morlon Wiley had six game in his career over 30 points, while John Rambo and Ramel "Rock" Lloyd each had five.

BIG WEST TOURNAMENT •49ers Looking To Solidify Spot

The 49ers are 3-11 in the Big West standings, tied for seventh place with UC Riverside. The 49ers and Highlanders split their season series, with both teams winning on its home court. Currently in ninth place, and out of the league tournament, is 2-12 UC Davis. The Aggies have two league games left, at UC Irvine and at UC Riverside. Davis would have to win both games to knock Long Beach out of the tournament, as the 49ers swept their season series with the Aggies. Long Beach can finish no higher than seventh place, which means they will play on Wednesday, March 12 in one of the tournament's opening round games. One more 49er victory or one more UC Davis loss would clinch a spot in the tournament for the 49ers. Long Beach State has advanced to the tournament's championship game the past two years, winning the title in 2007.

CLOSE CALLS •Nine Close Losses

Of its 22 losses this season, nine have come by seven points or less. The 49ers have also dropped to overtime contests (Pepperdine, CS Bakersfield). Five times this season the 49ers have lost a game by four points (at Saint Louis, at Hawai'i, Bucknell, at UC Riverside, CS Northridge).

Donovan Morris •Averaging 24.0 Points In Big West Games

Junior guard Donovan Morris continues to put up outstanding offensive numbers for the 49ers this season. He leads the squad in scoring at 21.1 points per game (24.0 ppg in Big West outings), and had hit double digits in 26 games this season (24 in a row at one point). Saturday at CS Fullerton he had 25 points and Thursday at UC Irvine he had 25 points, 20 in the second half. Morris also is the 49ers leading rebounder at 5.3 boards per game. In the win against UC Riverside (2/13) he picked up his second double-double of the year with 26 points and 10 rebounds. He was 15-16 at the free throw line, including 11-of-12 in the final 1:35 of the game. At CS Bakersfield (2/16) he tied his career-high with 32 points. It was his fourth game this season he's tallied 30 or more points. On January 10 against Pacific at home he scored 32 points. He then tallied a team-high 20 points in the win over UC Davis (Jan. 12) and was honored by being named the Big West Player of the Week (Jan. 14), his second league honor of the season. He has 18 games with 20 or more points this year, including 13 of the past 15 games. Morris was named the Big West Player of the Week on December 24 after he recorded a then-career-high 26 points in the 49ers 71-68 win over San Francisco.

Greg Plater •18 Points In Home Win Over UCR

Freshman Greg Plater broke out of a slump with a big game on February 13, scoring 18 points in the win over UC Riverside. Plater was 6-of-10 from three-point range in the contest and added two rebounds and an assist. The six made three's is a career-high for him. In his previous seven games he was just 3-of-19 (.158) from long-range. Saturday at CS Fullerton he had nine points, hitting two three's and Thursday at UC Irvine he had seven points, four rebounds and four assists. In his last six games he is averaging 11.3 points per game. Plater also came up big in the win over UC Davis (1/12) scoring 18 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists. Plater was 7-of-10 from the field and hit three of his five three-pointers. Plater is averaging 7.4 points per game this season and is second on the team in three-pointers made with 38 (38-113, .336). Plater tallied 15 points at California and followed that up with 13 points against Bucknell at the Cal Golden Bear Classic in December. Plater has hit double digits eight times this season, with his career-high of 21 points coming on November 21 at Pepperdine. His 38 made three-pointers places him first on the 49er Freshman Chart.  Jibril Hodges held the previous mark, knocking down 36 three's as a freshman in 2002-03.

Cornel Williams •Double-Double At UC Irvine

Junior Cornel Williams had a big game on Thursday at UC Irvine, finishing with a career-high 19 points and adding a career-high tying 11 rebounds. It was his first double-double as a 49er. Williams was 7-of-11 from the field and four of his 11 boards were on the offensive glass. At New Mexico State he led the 49ers with his 10 points, adding four rebounds. In his last three games he is averaging 11.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and is 13-25 (.520) from the field. Williams had 17 points at UC Santa Barbara (1/3) and has hit double digits in scoring eight times this season. He's averaging 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in Big West outings. Overall this season he's averaging 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He grabbed 11 rebounds in the game against Bucknell and against Washington he had 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Arturas Lazdauskas •Career-High 12 Points at CS Bakersfield

Sophomore Arturas Lazdauskas continues to impress lately for the 49ers. He has been in the starting lineup the past 10 games. Saturday at CS Fullerton he had eight points, a team-high nine rebounds, while adding three assists and two blocks. At CS Bakersfield (2/16) he had a career-high 12 points, adding six rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes. At Pacific (2/9) he had 10 points, hitting five-of-seven shots. Over his last 13 games he is averaging 6.0 points per game, hitting double digits in scoring three times. He earned his first start as a 49er against CS Fullerton (1/31) and finished with eight points, a career-high 10 rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes of action. Lazdauskas scored 10 points at UC Riverside on January 19, adding four rebounds and a steal. Lazdauskas is averaging 4.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game overall this season and is shooting .571 (40-70) from the field. Of his 73 rebounds this season and 28 are offensive. He also is second on the team with 17 blocked shots. Lazdauskas scored a total of 15 points in the first 15 games of the year (10 of which he played in). In the past 13 games he's totaled 78 points.

Maurice Clady •Career-High 17 Points vs. CS Bakersfield

Junior Maurice Clady has started at point guard the past nine games for the 49ers. Thursday at UC Irvine he had seven points and seven rebounds in 37 minutes. The seven boards in a new career-high and his seven assists ties his previous high which he set last December against LMU. At CS Bakersfield (2/16) he had a career-high 17 points, adding four rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes of action. Against CS Northridge (2/20) he had 14 points, four rebounds and six assists. On January 31 he came off the bench vs. CS Fullerton and scored a then career-high 13 points, adding five assists in 30 minutes. He was a perfect 3-3 from three-point range in the game. Clady has dished out 40 assists (4.0 apg) in his last 10 games. On the year he is averaging 4.1 points per game and he's first on the team with 72 assists (2.7 apg). Clady is one of three 49ers with more assists (72) than turnovers (69) this season. In Big West games he averaging 4.5 points and 3.8 assists per game.

Brandon Johnson •14 Points In First Meeting vs. UC Davis

Junior Brandon Johnson was in the starting lineup at UC Davis (2/7) and Pacific (2/9) and responded well. At UC Davis he played 21 minutes and finished with eight points and five rebounds, three on the offensive glass. At Pacific he had five points and two offensive rebounds. Johnson had a strong outing in the win over UC Davis on January 12 as he scored a career-high 14 points off the bench while grabbing five rebounds in 17 minutes. Johnson was 6-of-8 from the field and hit both of his free throw attempts. On the year he is averaging 4.1 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. Of his 45 total rebounds, 21 have been on the offensive glass and he is one of three players on the team with more assists (19) than turnovers (17).

Brice Gallow •17 Points at CS Northridge

Junior Brice Gallow has played well for the 49ers. He had started six games in a row before not starting on February 2 vs. UC Irvine. He sprained his left ankle that previous Thursday vs. CS Fullerton, but did play six minutes against the Anteaters. Last Saturday at New Mexico State he had four points, two rebounds and a career-high tying three assists. At CS Northridge (1/26) he had a career-high 17 points, adding five rebounds and two assists. In the home game against CS Bakersfield (1/23) he had 10 points, five rebounds and two assists. Gallow's previous high was an eight-point outing at UCSB on January 3. Gallow is currently averaging 2.5 points per game this year in 23 contests.

Brian Freeman •Six Double Figure Games This Year

Junior Brian Freeman checks in at 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting .528 (57-108) from the field. Saturday night at CS Fullerton he grabbed seven rebounds and had two assists. Against CS Northridge (2/20) he had a big game off the bench, finishing with 12 points and three rebounds. It was his first double-figure scoring effort since December 5 vs. LMU. At UC Davis he had six points, four rebounds and two assists. In the home game against UC Irvine he had eight points and six rebounds in 22 minutes. Freeman has hit double digits in scoring six times this season, including a career-high 17 points and 10 rebounds in the home win over Loyola Marymount. Freeman hit double digits in four consecutive games at the beginning of the season (12 at Pepperdine, 10 at Washington, 11 at St. Louis, 17 vs. LMU). Freeman is third on the team with 56 assists this season and also is the team leader with 22 blocked shots. He had a season-high five blocks at UCSB.

Chris Peys •Career-High 24 Minutes At UC Davis

Sophomore Chris Peys started at UC Davis (2/7) and played a career-high 24 minutes. Peys finished with one point, one rebound and a career-high two steals, but it wasn't his numbers that impressed. He played solid defense throughout, in a game where the 49ers limited the Aggies to just 15 first half points. Against UC Riverside he was also in the starting lineup and had two rebounds and one assist in 14 minutes.

Andrew Fleming •Career-High 11 Points & 8 Boards vs. BYU

Sophomore Andrew Fleming picked up three rebounds in six minutes at Pacific on February 9. He was in the starting lineup when the 49ers hosted UC Riverside and finished with two points in 16 minutes of action. Against CS Northridge he started, finishing with two points and four rebounds in 14 minutes. He earned another start this past Saturday at New Mexico State, finishing with three offensive rebounds. Fleming is averaging 1.7 rebounds and 0.9 points per game this season, having appeared in 25 contests. In the opener, he had career-high's with his 11 points, eight rebounds and 24 minutes played against BYU.

Lauren Heard •Career-High 8 Points at NMSU

Freshman Lauren Heard was going to redshirt this season, but decided to forgo his redshirt to help the 49ers out. On January 26 at CS Northridge, in his first game as a 49er, he had six points in 20 minutes of action. At New Mexico State he scored a career-high eight points, hitting two three-pointers. Heard played 12 minutes against the Aggies and picked up his first rebound as a 49er as well. Heard has played in eight games this season and is averaging 1.8 points per game. Heard was an All-Moore League selection last season at Jordan High School in Long Beach.