LONG BEACH – Despite having 5 players score in double figures, it was the visiting SF State Gators falling 74-64 to the Long Beach State 49ers at the Walter Pyramid in their second exhibition game of the season.
Udun Osakue paced the Gators with a game high 15 points off the bench to go with his 7 rebounds.
"We played extremely tough against a good Long Beach State team," said SF State head coach
Paul Trevor. "Our guys competed at a high level tonight and we had five players score in double digits to lead us."
Besides Osakue's game high 15 points,
Derrick Brown and
Floyd Wormley each chipped in 12 points while
Bren Haley had 10 points, 8 assists and four steals for the Gators.
Jon McMurry chipped in 11 points on 4 of 7 shooting from the field including going 3-for-6 from three-point range.
The 49ers, playing in their second regular season game, were paced by David Samuels with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Two-time All-Big West performer Mike Caffey had 13 points, 5 assists and three steals while Branford Jones and McKay LaSalle each chipped in 12 points.
Floyd Wormley's jumper at the 15:18 mark of the first half gave the Gators a 9-6 lead. Long Beach State went on a 10-0 run to take a 16-9 lead in the next four minutes capped by a Jones' three-pointer.
SF State came right back as the Gators outscored their hosts 11-4 capped by back-to-back three's by Brown and McMurry as they tied the game at 20-20 with 7:26 on the clock. Long Beach State retook the lead on its next possession on a three by Jones, 23-20, and held on as the 49ers went into the locker room with a 33-28 lead.
SF State scored on its first possession on the second half as the Gators cut the deficit to 33-30 on a Brown lay-up, but the 49ers would go on a 13-2 run to take a 46-32 lead in the next three minutes (their largest lead of the game).
The Gators would not give up as they battled back and cut the deficit to 56-54 on two made free throws by Haley with 7:18 to go in the game.
A Samuels' free throw with 5:17 on the clock gave Long Beach State a 64-57 lead, but a McMurray three cut that lead to 64-60 with a little under five minutes left in the game. Caffey's three on the 49ers' next possession gave the hosts a 67-60 lead, but Wormley was fouled on the Gators' next possession and connected on both free throws as the Gators were down just 67-62 with four minutes to go in the game.
The 49ers outscored their guests 7-2 in the final minutes as they held on for a 74-64 win.
"We just could not make some plays down the stretch," added Trevor. "We need to keep on getting better and pay attention to details and execute."
The Gators will have one more exhibition game this Tuesday, November 18 at Cal Poly at 7pm. They will have their regular season opener on Nov. 22 at No. 24 Cal Baptist in Riverside, Calif. Their home opener will be on Nov. 25 at 7pm against the Academy of Art University.
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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
