Photo by Amy Beth Bennett

Men's preseason ends with overtime loss

In what has become a familiar pattern, the Cal State Long Beach men's basketball team dropped a close exhibition game, this one a 91-88 overtime decision against Global Sports.

The game was closely contested throughout, but Global Sports consistently did better at execution down the stretch.

"I think we'll get better, but I'm disappointed in our performance tonight," said CSULB head coach Wayne Morgan. "We have 12 guys learning a new system, and it may take awhile before we get it."

Global Sports, a team of former college stars, made it an uptempo game from the start.

The quick pace put greater emphasis on the point guards for both teams. Global Sports featured standout point men in Sam Crawford, formerly of New Mexico State, and Demetrius Calip, formerly of Michigan.

While CSULB's point guard combination of Brandon Titus and Tommie Davis outscored Crawford and Calip, the duo was unable to lead the team to victory in the end.

Titus led Long Beach with 21 points and five steals. He had a chance to win the game for the 49ers at the end of regulation; with the score tied at 81, his desperation shot at the buzzer rattled out, and the two teams went into overtime.

In the extra period, Global Sports scored nine of the first 11 points and held on to win.

Senior co-captain Brian Yankelevitz scored 16 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.

Former UC Irvine guard Michael Tate led Global Sports with 21 points. Brian Camper, formerly of CSULB (93-94), played 10 minutes for Global Sports scoring two points on 1-for-5 shooting from the field.

CSULB struggled from the free throw line, converting only 12 of 21 attempts.

CSULB played its second consecutive game without injured James Cotton and Ike Nwankwo. Also absent was Marcus Johnson, who has been suspended indefinitely for breaking an unspecified team rule.

The three are not expected to participate in the regular season opener against Wyoming on Monday. The game will be take place at the Pyramid at 7:30 p.m.