College basketball: S.D. native plays big role in L.B. State win.

By GORDON VERRELL
Staff writer Long Beach Press Telegram

SAN DIEGO - It was just about this time a year ago when Ron Johnson, Long Beach State's freshman guard, was scoring at a 17-point-a-game clip and racking up seven assists a game at Helix High in nearby La Mesa, practically in the shadow of Cox Arena, San Diego State's swank new basketball home.

Yet no one around San Diego State seemed to notice. He barely got a phone call from the Aztecs, who certainly could have used the help.

Chances are the Aztecs know him now. In Long Beach State's 75-70 victory Saturday, Johnson - who came into the game averaging one point and only eight minutes in the first four games - was on the floor for 28 minutes. He was credited with three steals, and three assists while scoring nine points.

Johnson made what 49er coach Wayne Morgan described as "an absolutely incredible, unbelievable big-time shot" with less than a minute remaining, just when things were getting dicey.

"He did a great job for us," Morgan said of the 18-year-old Johnson.

Johnson certainly wasn't alone as the 49ers played their best game of the young season to improve to 2-3, post their second road win, one more than they managed all last season, and snap an eight-game losing streak against San Diego State.

Mate Milisa and Ramel "Rock" Lloyd each scored 18 points - Milisa had 16 in the first half, Lloyd 12 in the second half - as the 49ers twice opened 11-point leads in the second half, then were able to hold off the winless (0-5) Aztecs.

"It was very significant that we put two good halves together, that we played hard and that we didn't have any lengthy dead spot," Morgan said.

It was also significant for Johnson.

"I want to play well no matter who we're playing," Johnson said, diplomatically. "But, yeah, I wanted to do extra well today. (San Diego State recruiters) talked to me a couple of times, but there was never anything serious. It's nothing personal . . . but I did think about it."

It was a pass from Johnson to Lloyd, who converted on a fastbreak, that lifted the 49ers to an 11-point lead little more than three minutes into the second half. The Aztecs - who have eight true freshmen on their roster - cut the margin to five. The 49ers jumped it back to 11 before the Aztecs got loose for a 10-0 run, closing to within 51-50, with 11:30 left.

San Diego State took a one-point lead with 8:05 left on a 3-point play by Myron Epps. But Lloyd's steal and subsequent slam 16 seconds later regained the lead and the 49ers never again trailed, although the Aztecs got to within two twice in the final minute.

It was at that point Johnson's driving off-balance shot along the baseline bailed out the 49ers.

The 49ers shot season-highs 59 percent from the field and 9 for 11 at the free throw line.

Matt Watts scored 18 for San Diego State, which shot 50 percent from the field but only 43 percent from the free throw line. The 49ers kept sending the Aztecs' Vince Okotie, a 6-foot-7 freshman from Grossmont High, to the line, and he kept missing, making only three of 14 after missing his first seven.

For the 49ers, it was a solid game following their 26-point blowout loss Tuesday night at USC, which Milisa reflected on, saying, "We needed that (USC loss). It was like a wake-up call. It was embarrassing. I think that was the bottom of everything."

The 49ers certainly hope it was.