Long Beach’s Self-Help Plan Is Producing Results

Staring at two self-described make-or-break games, Long Beach State did some serious self-evaluation behind closed doors this week.

But while Long Beach worked in private, the results were very public. And, for the most part, impressive.

Long Beach got what it desperately wanted: two Big West Conference victories at home. Long Beach completed the sweep with an 89-80 victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Saturday night in front of 3,432 at the Pyramid.

The victory moved Long Beach, which improved to 7-9 overall and 3-3 in the conference, into a three-way tie for second place in the Western Division with San Luis Obispo (9-9, 3-3) and Cal State Fullerton. Long Beach defeated UC Santa Barbara, 68-59, Thursday.

“We had a real big week--and we really needed this,” said guard Brandon Titus, who had 21 points and five assists.

“We were putting ourselves in a hole with all of those losses. This has just built up the whole team’s confidence. Man, did we need this.”

The biggest 49er gun, once again, was guard James Cotton. Cotton scored a career-high 31 points and in the process took over the Big West scoring lead.

“I’m feeling really good right now,” said Cotton, who made five of 10 three-point shots. “We’re all playing with so much confidence right now and everyone is just trying to do their part to help us win. Everybody understands their roles and we’re all playing together.”

This newly inspired unity helped Long Beach stay with San Luis Obispo and then finally take control late in the second half. Long Beach kept pace with San Luis Obispo, which likes the tempo quick and shoots threes from everywhere, because its three-guard lineup of Cotton, Titus and Tommie Davis met the challenge.

The Mustangs led, 43-39, at halftime and the lead went back and forth in the second half. Cotton and Titus were doing the bulk of the scoring, but then gladly turned over that responsibility to forwards Brian Yankelevitz and Marcus Johnson when the opportunities arose.

With Yankelevitz and Johnson controlling the post, Long Beach went on a 12-0 run that enabled it to take an 80-68 lead with 3:51 to play on a jumper by Titus. Yankelevitz finished with 10 points and six rebounds, and Johnson, a reserve, had eight points and 11 rebounds.

“Those guys deserve a lot of credit,” Cotton said. “They make things a lot easier on me when they’re rebounding and scoring inside like that.”

Cotton also did a super job defensively for the second consecutive game, Coach Wayne Morgan said. Mustang guard Mitch Wozniak scored 16 points in the first half, making four of five three-pointers.

But with Cotton guarding him for most of the second half, Wozniak scored only two more points. He missed all three of his second-half three-point shots.

“Oh, man, he only had two more? That’s great,” Cotton said. “He’s a great shooter, so I just tried to put as much pressure as I could on him.”

Davis, who penetrated at will, had 11 points and a career-high 10 assists. He especially pleased Morgan.

“That’s what I need Tommie to do,” Morgan said. “He ran the team really well and just generally did a great job.”

Guard Mitch Ohnstad led the Mustangs with 21 points.