Rollercoaster beginning for men’s basketball



By Patrick Hodgson
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer


The first seven games of the season have been nothing less than a roller coaster ride for the Long Beach State men’s basketball team. At a 2-5 record, the team has put on a display of brilliance at times such as the 108-51 massacre against San Francisco State.

On the other hand, the team has appeared lackadaisical with lapses in the key moments of games against Portland and Sacramento State. Despite a sub par start and coming off a disappointing 56-69 loss to the San Jose State Spartans, the 49ers are remaining optimistic about their season because of their competitive play and talented tandem of Jibril Hodges and Kevin Houston.

“ We’re going to go to practice and work hard like we have something to prove because we do have something to prove,” said Houston.

Houston initially came on strong the second half of the season for the improving ball club averaging 12 points and five assists per contest in his final eight games and was voted most improved player of the year at the 49er awards banquet last spring. This season, the Highland native has continued to play at a potent level and is replicating those numbers this season.

Hodges, the son of former Chicago Bull’s three point specialist and champion Craig Hodges, is averaging slightly under 13 points a game and is second on the team in rebounding. The 2005 All Big West Honorable mention and reigning team MVP has picked up where he left off last season and attributes his consistent play to his father.

“ He’s played an important part in helping me improve my shooting and giving me tips,” Hodges said.

College basketball experts had low expectations for the 49ers because of their 10-20 finish last season, however they did manage to go 7-2 in their last 9 games and qualify for the Big West Tournament.

“ We can be as good as possible,” Houston said. “We could capture the Big West and get in the NCAA Tournament.”

With three games remaining in non-conference play before Houston and Hodges engage in battle with their rivals in the Big West conference, the 49ers have a sufficient opportunity to enter their conference play with a 5-5 record because they are favored against Pepperdine (1-6), Maryland-Baltimore County (3-4) and Cornell (3-5). A 5-5 record would be significantly better than the deplorable 2-8 record the team had last season.

“ I think we can make a big splash in the Big West,” said Hodges. “We just have to come together. We could get an automatic bid in the Big West.

The 49ers travel to play the Waves of Pepperdine in a western region televised game on Fox Sports on Saturday.

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