Cal State Long Beach Defeats American by 23, but It Isn’t Easy

For a young, unproven team such as Cal State Long Beach, a victory does not come without a struggle.

The 49ers shot 47% in the first half and found themselves with a rare 21-point lead over American University at intermission Friday night. But they did anything but coast to an 86-63 victory at the university gym.

Reverting to its season-long sub-40% shooting in the second half, Long Beach saw the lead dwindle to 67-60. Suddenly, though, the 49ers turned the last 3:47 into a blowout, making 13 of 14 free throws and outscoring the Eagles, 19-3.

The victory stopped a 3-game losing streak and improved the 49ers’ record to 3-6.

“It was a good win but certainly not an easy win,” Long Beach Coach Joe Harrington said. “I thought (American) would come back.”

The Eagles (4-3) came back despite 29 turnovers, 37% shooting and the absence of starting forwards Mike Sumner and Eric White, who left with injuries.

After Rudy Harvey had given the 49ers a 45-22 lead to start the second half, the Eagles scored 8 straight points, infuriating Harrington, who screamed at his players during a timeout.

“We didn’t come out with fire in our eyes so we could put them away easily . . . that’s what I told them in no uncertain terms,” Harrington said.

Long Beach quickly got the lead back to 19, only to see the Eagles, led by guard Brock Wortman’s 13 second-half points, fight back again.

But guard Tyrone Mitchell, a transfer from Arizona State playing his second game since gaining his eligibility, and veteran center John Hatten gave the 49ers the leadership they needed to save the game.

Long Beach guard Tyrone Mitchell had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while center John Hatten led the 49ers with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

“There was no real letdown; we just started struggling,” Hatten said. “I thinbk we showed character hanging on at the end.”