Spanos Center is beginning to fill up for the 2012-13 regular season finale and more importantly the final home game of coach Bob Thomason’s 25-year career.
The pregame hoopla for Thomason and the six seniors is slated to begin shortly and the game will have plenty of significance as the Tigers need a victory to secure second place and the No. 2 seed in next week’s Big West Conference Tournament next week. Long Beach State has clinched the regular season crown and the No. 1 seed.
The 49ers held on for a 67-63 victory over the Tigers at the Pyramid on Dec. 29 and the two teams were a combined 25-7 in Big West games after that. Pacific will need the terrific shooting that has been their hallmark at home this season to beat the 49ers. The Tigers are 12-2 at home this season, including 8-0 against conference opponents.
The 49ers are physically superior, as they are against all Big West opponents, but they have nothing to play for this afternoon, while plenty is on the line for the Tigers. The emotion in the building and the expected great shooting should carry the Tigers to a 73-66 victory.
