Repeat Bid by Long Beach Ends as Pacific Pulls Off Upset, 87-74
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LAS VEGAS — Long Beach State’s hopes of winning a second consecutive Big West Conference basketball tournament championship ended Friday as Pacific pulled away in the second half for an 87-74 quarterfinal upset at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The loss dropped third-seeded Long Beach to 17-10, and convinced Coach Seth Greenberg that the 49ers won’t be invited to the NCAA tournament on Sunday.
“We have no chance of going,” he said, “But we have a chance at the NIT. I think a USC-Long Beach State game would be a great matchup. I would be disappointed if we didn’t get a chance to play (in the NIT).”
Charles Terrell scored 20 points and T.J. Walker added 19 as sixth-seeded Pacific (17-13) ended a three-game losing streak and advanced to the semifinals to play 10th-seeded UC Irvine, a 78-68 winner over second-seeded Utah State. Pacific beat Irvine, 73-71 and 88-79, during the regular season.
Long Beach trailed Pacific, 63-61, with 6:22 to play, but two layups by Walker keyed a 9-0 Pacific run in the next 3:28.
Rod Hannibal led Long Beach with 18 points.
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