And it’s Josh Jenkins back in the starting lineup along with Rob Haynes, Kenny Daniels, Willie Galick and Tremaine Townsend. For the 49ers…(as they play a video with their highlights and the Matadors look on) … Cornell Williams, Brian Freeman, Donovan Morris, Casper Ware and Stephin Gilling. The LBS starters threw some balls or something at the fans as each was introduced. Nice detail. Game time!
Not that many people here to receive the 49ers (although the arena is pretty big). The alumni band is impressive though. Five minutes to tip-off. Here are the Matadors and no one noticed.
This is Alonso Tacanga reporting from inside The Pyramid (a thing of beauty) where the Matadors are to take on the Long Beach State 49ers. Something to note: Mark Hill, a transfer from Tulsa who’s yet to log a minute with the team, is in practice shorts so we’ll likely finally get to see what the 6-2 guard has to offer. He hadn’t played up to the date because he was ineligible. Uh-oh, anthem time…
Long Beach State, “The Beach,” as the locals call it, is off to a CSUN-like start. The 49ers are unbeaten (4-0) in the Big West Conference despite having been picked to finish next to last by the coaches of the California-based league. The Matadors beat LBS twice last season, including an 82-78 grinder on the road. Last season’s leading-scorer for the 49ers, Donovan Morris, is once again at the top in points, averaging 16.7 ppg. CSUN was also snubbed by… Read more
Alonso Tacanga Sports Editor Riverside – Things weren’t looking better. Not even five minutes had gone by and the shorthanded, media-hounded Matadors were already down a dozen and making supporters wonder whether missing their top-scorer was going to completely turn them from Big West favorites to Big West write-offs. But then the basketball finally dropped through the Highlander hoop. A few more of the same came after. CSUN (5-8, 3-1 Big West) finally found some offense, stuck around and hanged… Read more
The Highlanders made a three after Josh Jenkins started having fun with the fans but that was about it. It was the Jenkins show at the end (because he was sent to the line a number of times and because he just loves “chatting” with the fans). He ended the game by screaming out loud in joy. Rob Haynes had 14 points for CSUN, followed by Jenkins, who came off the bench, with 13. Javon Borum scored 15 points for… Read more
The Matadors’ defense has been unbelieveable this last stretch of the game. CSUN has possession leading by six with 53 second to play. Some fans are heading for the exits (I can’t blame them. They must be super disappointed). But the game isn’t over… CSUN almost turned it over after some heavy defensive pressure but finally Jenkins was fouled. He made both. CSUN leads 61-53 with 37.7 to go.
Kenny Daniels pulled up and made a 3-pointer to make it a 59-53 CSUN lead with 2:31 to go. He’s screaming like he’s Superman. He must feel good. Speaking of heroes..if the Matadors pull this out, the unsung hero will be their defense. They have limited the Highlanders to under 30 percent shooting from the field in the second half.
Galick made a free throw to expand the lead to 55-53. He almost completed an alley-oop for three-point chance but instead is going to the line again to try to make it a four-point affair. There is 3:39 to go (as a cheerleader just backflipped her way across the court).