Friends, 49ers, sports fanatics, lend me your ear. This Thanksgiving break marks a showdown between two of the West Coast’s more exhilarating teams as the black and gold attack of the Long Beach State 49ers will enter the new home of the USC Trojans at the Galen Center, Friday.
The 49ers are off to a 2-1 start this season and should be undefeated if they would watch Rick Barry’s fundamental to free throws DVD. The wins include victories against San Jose State and Cal State Bakersfield, and the lone loss was by a single point to undefeated Air Force (4-0).
The proclaimed “best back court in the West” Kejuan Johnson and Aaron Nixon have not disappointed. Nixon is averaging 19 points per game and Johnson putting in 10 points a contest.
To add to those fortunes, senior Sterling Byrd has surprised many and is playing like a potential Big West All-Conference selection.
Senior Kevin Houston has also contributed by putting the ball in the right spots for Nixon, Johnson and Byrd and is also contributing scores and smothering opponents defensively.
The men of Troy enter the contest one up and one down and are euphoric over their recent signing of prep phenom O.J Mayo. The only problem is they’ll have to wait until next year to see Mayo.
Pac-10 Player of the Year candidate Nick Young will be on the floor. However, he has not resembled anything of that caliber so far this season, shooting under 40 percent from the field. Instead, it has been freshmen Taj Gibson and returning starter Lodrick Stewart who have kept the Trojans on track averaging 15 points a game.
The game should do its best Dallas Mavericks-Phoenix Suns masquerade, providing fans with see-saw, high-scoring action with little defense played. The X-factor for “Niner Nation” will be how well they crash the boards. They are undersized and are going up against a superb rebounding team.
In addition, the Niners must find a way to contain Young as South Carolina and St. Mary’s has done this season.
The X-factor for the Trojans will be to take Nixon out of the game and defend the three-point basket. Furthermore, since both teams are parallel, it is imperative that the bench has an impact on the game.
Whoever bench outplays the other will be the victor of the contest.
With that said, I expect a 78-74 Long Beach State victory. All the usual suspects will get their normal production, but the deciding factor will be Dominique Ricks of The Beach to secure the win.
