Long Beach State Extends Rebuilding Year

That last season would be nothing more than a rebuilding year for Long Beach State quickly became apparent when the 49ers got off to a program-worst 1-11 start.

Unfortunately, Coach Larry Reynolds’ second season is looking much like his first. The 49ers are 2-5 overall, getting their first victory over a Division I team Tuesday night against Loyola Marymount, 71-68.

“It’s ugly to me already,” Reynolds said. “ ... We just have to concentrate on one game at a time.”

The 49ers have played reasonably well in some games and poorly in others. Although they have struggled offensively, it is on defense that Reynolds wants a complete effort every night.

“I think there’s probably a big change in the philosophy between the two coaching staffs,” said Reynolds, in reference to his predecessor, Wayne Morgan. “It’s not that one way is right or the other is right. It’s just different.

“It just takes a while [for players] to buy into what you want to do and to be able to implement it in games.”

Reynolds has made some changes. Guard Louis Darby earned a start and Mark Bowens took over at point for struggling freshman Kevin Houston. The 49ers are also figuring on help from 6-foot-11 forward Anthony Coleman, who is eligible after transferring from Xavier.

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Nick Jones returned to the UC Santa Barbara lineup Sunday and immediately contributed 12 points in 22 minutes of the Gauchos’ 63-53 victory over Alabama State at the Wolf Pack Classic in Reno.

Jones finished serving an eight-game suspension for playing in an unsanctioned summer league in Mexico. “It felt like old times,” senior Branduinn Fullove said. “We were doing the things that just come natural for us. Nick and I know when and where to look for each other.”

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Cal State Northridge junior Eto Onyenegecha rejoined the team in a big way Monday night, scoring 14 points to help the Matadors’ 79-63 home victory over Portland State. Onyenegecha, a transfer from City College of San Francisco, had been academically ineligible earlier.

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West Coast Conference

Glen McGowan apparently is making up for lost time at Pepperdine. Two years ago, he was suspended for the fall semester for instigating a fight with teammate Will Kimble. A year ago, after off-season knee surgery, he played one game, then sat out the rest of the season after a blood clot was discovered in his left arm.

This season, the 6-9 redshirt junior forward is averaging a team-leading 19.3 points, and had a career-high 36 points against Maryland.

“I’ve been wanting to play like this since I’ve been at Pepperdine,” he said.

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Senior forward Sherman Gay had three blocks for Loyola Marymount against Virginia last week, reached 100 for his career and broke the school record of 97 held by Chris Knight.