Casper Ware scored a career-high 30 points, leading the Long Beach State 49ers to a 78-69 win over the Cal Poly Mustangs on Thursday night at Mott Gymnasium in San Luis Obispo. The win moved Long Beach State to 6-0 in the Big West Conference, and improved their regular season conference winning streak to 15 games.
Ware connected on nine of his 12 field goal attempts, including hitting five of six shots from three-point range. Ware also had two steals in the game. Larry Anderson played all 40 minutes and scored 20 points of his own, including making 11 of 12 free throws.
The 49ers trailed by nine points about three minutes into the second half but used a 12-0 run to surge into the lead, and never looked back. Will Taylor led the Mustangs with 16 points and eight rebounds. Long Beach State shot 59.0% from the field and made eight of their 11 shots from beyond the arc. It was a hot-shooting night for both teams, as Cal Poly shot 50% from the field and made nine of 19 three-point attempts. Cal Poly actually outrebounded the 49ers 30-22 in the contest.
The 49ers take their unbeaten Big West Conference record on the road Saturday night, facing the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at The Thunderdome.