Warrior Insider

Michael Carter III sank a free throw with three seconds remaining tonight to lift visiting Long Beach State to a pulsating 50-49 victory over Hawai’i in more thrilling Big West Conference men’s basketball action.

A vocal crowd but stunned crowd of 3,112 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Joshua Morgan score 11 points and grab six rebounds and Chance Hunter add 10 points as the 49ers improved to 8-17 overall and 3-6 in the Big West. Eddie Stansberry scored a game-high 19 points and Justin Webster added 11 points for the Warriors, who dropped their third straight game and fell to 14-9, 5-4.

UH led 20-13 with 7:57 left in the first half, but scored only one field goal the rest of the period as Long Beach State closed out the half with an 11-2 run to lead 24-22 at the break. The Warriors shot just 34.5 percent (10 for 29) in the first 20 minutes, including just 2 of 12 (16.7 percent ) from 3-point range, and missed their only free throw attempt.

The 49ers built the lead to 38-32 after Jordan Roberts’ free throw with 8:18 remaining, but Hawai’i clawed back and tied it on Stansberry’s 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 47-47 with 1:57 left. Webster then gave the Warriors a 49-47 lead with two free throws at the 1:05 mark, but Carter III tied it with a jumper 18 seconds later. 

After a UH turnover, the 49ers gained possession with 33 seconds remaining and Carter III was fouled on a fadeaway jumper from the left wing. He sank the first free throw and missed the second, and the Warriors grabbed the rebound, but Webster’s 28-foot attempt at the buzzed banked off the rim.

More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.

Big West Conference
Wednesday’s Results
UC Irvine 63, at UC Riverside 59
Long Beach State 50, at Hawai’i 49

Thursday’s Games
Cal Poly at CSUN
UC Santa Barbara at UC Davis

Saturday’s Games
UC Riverside at Long Beach State
CSUN at UC Davis
Cal Poly at Cal State Fullerton
UC Irvine at Hawai