49ers drown Seawolves in final exhibition game

Hoops • Junior guard Jibril Hodges looks to pass during the 49ers' blow out of Alaska-Anchorage Thursday in The Pyramid. Yulian Danusastro/Online Forty-Niner

 

By Elysse James
Online Forty-Niner
Opinion Editor

Long Beach State turned up the heat in their second exhibition game this season as Transfer forward Shawn Hawkins and senior center Anthony Coleman led the 49ers to a 91-63 victory over the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves Thursday night in The Pyramid.

Last year the Seawolves were 20-10 and qualified for the NCAA Division II West Regional.

Hawkins heated up quick by hitting a jump shot for two of his 16 points on the night. Coleman, true to Reynold's expectations, led the game with 10 rebounds, nine defensive, and one offensive. He played well despite wearing a leg brace due to last year's injury. Coleman had a game-high 17 points as five 49ers reached double-digits in scoring.

49ers' Head Coach Larry Reynolds still knows his team has a lot to work on after the team's second exhibition win in as many tries.

"We want to get more basket cuts and rotation," he said. "We are getting better, staying together. We have a lot of improvement to do. We played to get better and continued to focus. The score didn't matter. I'm worried about execution."

Coleman started the game out with an easy lay up to give The Beach a 2-0 lead. A minute later, the Seawolves' Marcus Robinson tied the game with a lay up of his own, but that was the last time the score was close.

Hawkins broke the tie with a 3-pointer, and started the 49ers' route of the Seawolves. Sophomore guard Kevin Houston helped with an assist and a 3-pointer as he was 3-of-5 from 3-point land.

The 49ers led for the rest of the game, ending the first half with a 52-24 lead. Robinson led the Seawolves with 3-of-6 shooting from the field, and two free throws, playing 13 minutes of the first half.

The second half of the game went much as the first with Long Beach State leading to the end, but the Seawolves began the second half with a surge. James Hartman got an easy two points with a lay up, but the Seawolves could never mount a run strong enough to make the game close.

49er Redshirt freshman Kevin Crockett played eight minutes of the game, and scored eight points including one 3–pointer. Both Alaska and Long Beach scored 39 points in the second half. Cody Pearson ended the second half with 10 points.

"Cody is a starter sometimes," Reynold said. "Cody is really a team leader. He understands his role: play-to-play, not to impress anyone. He's definitely earning his keep."

Coleman, Pearson, Hawkins and Sam Byrd, put the pressure on Alaska to rebound better throughout the game as they combined for 26 rebounds.

The 49ers played their second exhibition game with better tempo and speed than in their first exhibition game.

"Our offense was much better today, but was a little rushed," Reynolds said. "[This] helped us score more points, but more effectively. Its hard to teach them to be quick and not hurry."

The Charlotte 49ers will host Long Beach State in their season opener in Charlotte, NC on Friday.