49er hoopsters rock homecoming

By Rick Alonzo	On-line Forty-Niner
March 4, 1997

The 49ers men's basketball team defeated top-ranked University of Pacific 79-75 before a near sell-out homecoming crowd at The Pyramid on Saturday.

In the first half, guard Tommie Davis sparked the 49ers with a strong performance. Davis finished the game with 15 points, five assists, two steals, and committed just two turnovers.

49er guard James Cotton contributed to the win with 27 points, including two critical free-throws with 11 seconds remaining in the game which helped secure the victory.

The 49ers upset the Tigers, in part, by shooting 51 percent from the floor. However, Cal State Long Beach's careless ball handling allowed Pacific to keep the score close throughout the game.

Pacific also helped itself by protecting the ball, committing only 11 turnovers. Tiger guard Tim Boelter sunk 6 three-point shots on his way to 24 points on the evening.

The win over Pacific at The Pyramid marked the last home game for seniors Brian Yankelevitz, Ike Nwankwo, and Brandon Titus.

Cotton averaged 23.5 points per game during the regular season but it was not enough to win the Big West Conference scoring title. UC Santa Barbara guard Raymond Tutt edged Cotton for the award averaging 24.1 points per game.

The 49ers have won six of their last seven games heading into the Big West Conference Tournament in Reno. They are the second seed in the tournament and will play New Mexico State in the first round on March 7.

CSULB must win the Big West Conference tournament in order to advance to the NCAA tournament.

"I want to go dancing!" Cotton said, explaining that the upcoming tournament is critical.