Three-Pointers Rain, Pacific Falls at CS Long Beach, 86-78

Tony McGee and Lucious Harris combined to score 28 second-half points Saturday night as Cal State Long Beach outlasted Pacific, 86-78, in a Big West Conference game at Long Beach.

Playing before 1,565 in the University Gymnasium, the teams made a combined 26 of 42 three-point shots, with Long Beach (8-3 overall, 2-0 in the Big West) getting 12 and Pacific (4-7, 0-2) making 14.

Pacific, which held a 43-36 halftime lead, made 17 of 20 field goal attempts in the first 20 minutes, including nine of 11 three-point attempts.

But the Tigers, faced with stronger defensive pressure from Long Beach, found it more difficult to set up long-range shots and instead tried to penetrate more. The Tigers made only 12 of 35 field goal attempts during the second half, including five of 12 three-pointers.

Long Beach officials believe the 12 three-point baskets set a school record. The 49ers attempted 22.

Pacific led, 49-38, with less than 18 minutes to play.

But 14 points by McGee, including three three-pointers, the 49ers outscored the Tigers, 29-8, and gained a 69-57 lead with 7:27 left.

“We knew we were going to score,” McGee said. “It was just a matter of whether we could stop them.”

Harris, who made 10 of 17 shots, including three three-pointers, had 24 points. McGee, who was six of seven from the field, scored 19, including four three-pointers.

Dell Demps of Pacific had 25 points, making seven of 10 three-point attempts.

At one point during the first half, the Tigers made eight consecutive field goals--but never led by more than eight points.