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Health & Fitness

Long Beach State to Meet New Mexico at NCAA

Long Beach State Draws 5th seeded New Mexico Lobos iin the second round of the West regional which also includes Louisville whom they already played this year

The Long Beach State men's basketball (25-8) team will meet the fifth-seeded New Mexico Lobos Thursday  in the second round of the West Regionals, which also features Louisville, whom the Beach already played this year.

The Lobos (27-6) are, however, no strangers to 49er head coach Dan Monson, as he knows New Mexico head coach Steve Alford too much.

"Steve and i entered the coaching together," Monson said. "We entered the Big 10 together, and we left the big 10 together.  Even today, our families are still very good friends.  I repect him as a coach and as a fan i root for his teams to win.  We've exchanged texts last night and we already exchanged texts today (after the announcement)."

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New Mexico is the Mountain West Conference tournament champions by virtue of wins over Air Force, UNLV, and a dominating win over San Diego State in the championship game.

Big West Player of the year Casper Ware scored 33 in the conference championship game will face an unfriendly defense by the Lobos led by 6 foot 9 Drew Gordon anchoring the middle.

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"Point guards are judged by what they have done," Ware said.  "I havent done enough to be judged that way yet.  Its not enough for us just to make the tournament, but to make a deep run in it."

"Every team in the tournament is good," Monson said.  "We are going to have our hands full just to get past the first round (against the New Mexico)."

Check out all the match-ups on the attached PDF of the 2012 NCAA men's basketball bracket.

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