LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State’s Anthony Coleman led all player with a career-high 26 points and Sacramento State shot just 32.8 percent (20-61) from the field as the 49ers avenged last season’s loss to the Hornets with an 87-63 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at The Pyramid.Long Beach State, which lost to the Hornets by 22 points last season in Sacramento, improved to 1-2 with the victory. Sacramento State, which won its home opener over Southern Utah on Monday, dropped to 1-2 with the loss.
Long Beach State shot a blistering 57.1 percent (28-49) from the field, including 59.3 percent (16-27) in the first half. The 49ers had four players in double figures, comprised of Coleman, Shawn Hawkins (15 points), Louis Darby (14) and Travon Free (12). Coleman’s 26 points came on 8-of-9 shooting from the filed and 9-of-10 shooting from the charity stripe. He also posted a game-high eight rebounds.
Sacramento State, which had its only lead of the game at 4-2 with 18:01 remaining in the first half, shot poorly in both the first (26.7 percent) and second (38.7 percent) halves of the contest. Junior Jason Harris (15 points on 5-of-11 shooting) was the only Hornet to score in double figures.
Sacramento State’s only push of the game came midway through the first half, as the Hornets went on an 11-6 run to close to within, 18-17, with 11:17 remaining. Long Beach State, however, then scored nine unanswered points and closed the half on a 28-10 run. Sacramento State got no closer than within 12 points of the 49ers’ lead the rest of the way.
Among Hornets with more than one field goal attempt, senior E.J. Harris (3-for-6, seven points) was Sacramento State’s only player to shoot at least 50.0 percent from the field. Sophomore Alex Bausley finished with nine points and a team-best four rebounds as Sacramento State was outrebounded, 38-31, during the contest. Sacramento State did force Long Beach State into 24 turnovers (four steals each from Jason Harris and junior DaShawn Freeman), but could not overcome its shooting woes.
Freeman also had eight points and four assists to go along with his four steals. Through three games, Freeman, who is already fifth all-time in Sacramento State history in steals, is averaging 3.7 steals per game. Freshman Schuyler McKay added a season-high seven points (4-of-4 from the free-throw line) and three rebounds in 14 minutes of action.
The Hornets return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 1, as they host UC Davis at 7:05 p.m. After the game against the Aggies, Sacramento State will play four of its next five contests on the road.
