Even Pyramid Can’t Save Long Beach State This Time

No matter how harsh the road has been to Long Beach State, and it hasn’t been kind, returning to the Pyramid has made things better.

Until now.

Looking even worse than it has in losing its five road games, Long Beach lost its Big West Conference opener at home to Boise State, 78-53, Monday night before 2,933.

The defeat was the worst for the 49ers, 4-6 overall and 0-1 in the Big West, since the Pyramid opened during the 1994-95 season and it snapped their three-game home winning streak. The performance added to the 49ers’ dejection and worry.

“When you have a loss like this . . . when you get spanked like this on your home court, you just can’t accept it,” said 49er point guard Brandon Titus, who had 15 points.

The game was decided by halftime. Using solid man-to-man and an effective match-up zone defense, Boise State (5-5, 1-0) held Long Beach without a field goal over the final 10:22 of the first half and led, 31-21, at the break.

With guard Joe Wyatt (23 points) and forward Gerry Washington (19 points) leading the way, the Broncos eliminated any suspense early in the second half, taking a 45-23 lead with 15:58 left, which capped a 33-5 run stretching from the first half.

“Their match-up zone was very good and it did give us problems,” Long Beach Coach Wayne Morgan said. “But the key factor was how poorly we played in the first half.”

James Cotton led the 49ers with 23 points.