What?s on the line:
With Long Beach State out of the running for the regular-season Big West title and stuck on a four-game losing streak, the 49ers are just trying to find momentum with four games left. And like Long Beach, Hawai?i enters on two-game skid, making for two focused teams hitting the court.
Long Beach has a new sense of energy in recent practices, signs that it is close to getting back to winning.
?We have guys in here still showing their teammates they care,? said head coach Dan Monson.
Key Stat: 40
Long Beach and Hawai?i combined for 40 turnovers in the first meeting for a very sloppy affair. The 49ers went down 12-0 quickly but got back into the game thanks to the Warriors? turnover issues. Long Beach won?t snap the losing streak with another 20-plus turnover game on the road.
Key Opponent: Roderick Bobbitt, Jr., Guard
The high-risk, high-reward system the Rainbow Warriors play is led by Bobbitt, who currently leads the Big West and the nation in steals per game with 3.14. No one else in the Big West averages over 2 steals. In the first meeting, Bobbitt had just six points but eight of the team?s 15 steals. Bobbitt was also critical to holding down UC Davis? elite scorer Corey Hawkins to six points in a narrow loss Saturday.
Key Matchup: Stefan Jankovic vs. David Samuels
Hawai?i?s Jankovic has scored in double figures in the last four games, including a career-high 21 points against UC Davis. The 6-foot-11 forward led the Rainbow Warriors with 13 points in the first meeting while Samuels outrebounded Hawai?i?s entire starting front court and will be needed to slow down Jankovic.
Quote:
?Our mentality is starting our seven-game win streak. We have four games left in the regular season and three games in the postseason so that?s our seven-game streak and it starts in Hawai?i.?
With Long Beach State out of the running for the regular-season Big West title and stuck on a four-game losing streak, the 49ers are just trying to find momentum with four games left. And like Long Beach, Hawai?i enters on two-game skid, making for two focused teams hitting the court.
Long Beach has a new sense of energy in recent practices, signs that it is close to getting back to winning.
?We have guys in here still showing their teammates they care,? said head coach Dan Monson.
Key Stat: 40
Long Beach and Hawai?i combined for 40 turnovers in the first meeting for a very sloppy affair. The 49ers went down 12-0 quickly but got back into the game thanks to the Warriors? turnover issues. Long Beach won?t snap the losing streak with another 20-plus turnover game on the road.
Key Opponent: Roderick Bobbitt, Jr., Guard
The high-risk, high-reward system the Rainbow Warriors play is led by Bobbitt, who currently leads the Big West and the nation in steals per game with 3.14. No one else in the Big West averages over 2 steals. In the first meeting, Bobbitt had just six points but eight of the team?s 15 steals. Bobbitt was also critical to holding down UC Davis? elite scorer Corey Hawkins to six points in a narrow loss Saturday.
Key Matchup: Stefan Jankovic vs. David Samuels
Hawai?i?s Jankovic has scored in double figures in the last four games, including a career-high 21 points against UC Davis. The 6-foot-11 forward led the Rainbow Warriors with 13 points in the first meeting while Samuels outrebounded Hawai?i?s entire starting front court and will be needed to slow down Jankovic.
Quote:
?Our mentality is starting our seven-game win streak. We have four games left in the regular season and three games in the postseason so that?s our seven-game streak and it starts in Hawai?i.?
