After the first week of Big West Conference play, the Long Beach State 49ers are showing signs of life but inconsistencies in offense and shooting performance are undermining the plot line
The Big West Conference opener for the Long Beach State 49ers didn’t go as planned – the 49ers and UC Irvine Anteaters were involved in an ugly offensive display that consisted of missed shots after missed shots. The 49ers shot 17-54 (31.5%), while the Anteaters didn’t shoot it much better, going 17-50 (34%).
The difference in the 49ers 46-44 loss came at the free throw stripe as they shot a miserable 7-14. The 49ers did do a fantastic job, of controlling the turnover battle 14-9. Freshman Travis Hammonds, who started the game was the only 49er to have a hot hand as he went 6-9 for 12 points. Mike Caffey who averages 16 points, went 0-8 from the field with only two points. Head coach Dan Monson decided to go with a starting lineup consisting of Anson Moye, Javion Watson, McKay LaSalle, Hammonds, and Christian Griggs-Williams. This comes as a bit of a surprise as Lamb and Caffey, who are the 49ers leading scorers came off the bench. The 49ers loss ended their impressive 26-game home Big West win streak.
However, against UC Davis, the 49ers exploded for a massive second half, showing fluidity and communication on offense. A 30-0 run to begin the second half gave the 49ers their first conference win.
Maybe a new conference home win streak has begun as the 49ers beat down the UC Davis Aggies 99-74. The 49ers shot a remarkable 56% from the field and went 13-25 (52%) from behind the 3-point stripe. Hammonds, who had 20 points, led all 49ers scorers for the second straight game despite coming off the bench in this one. Caffey bounced back in this contest going for 17 points and 7 assists. The lineup got rearranged as Monson went with the regular lineup of Dan Jennings, David Samuels, A.J. Spencer, Tyler Lamb, and Caffey. Despite going down 44-40 at the half, the 49ers bounced back as they went for 30 straight points to begin the half.
Up next for the 49ers is their first Big West road trip where they will take on UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly, beginning on Thursday.
The 49ers are currently 5-11. Despite their record being ugly as it is, the 49ers do have one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the nation and have played ten of their games without Lamb, who sat out due to transfer rules.
One can make the case that several of their contests would’ve resulted differently if Lamb played. The 49ers do have two good non-conference wins – first over the USC Trojans, then Nevada. The 49ers lost to Washington, VCU, and North Carolina State all by 10 points or less without Lamb and Hammonds. Despite their 4-10 non-conference record, the 49ers will be in the race for the Big West Conference, if they can get by Hawaii.
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