BIGGEST WIN IN 49ER HISTORY : 49ers Hail 'Mother Lode' Victory : Basketball: Players were on such an emotional high after the Kansas game that many did not sleep. Instead, they watched game highlights into the wee hours.

BIGGEST WIN IN 49ER HISTORY : 49ers Hail ‘Mother Lode’ Victory : Basketball: Players were on such an emotional high after the Kansas game that many did not sleep. Instead, they watched game highlights into the wee hours.

By PAUL McLEOD

Jan. 28, 1993 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The mood was very upbeat in the chilly halls of Allen Fieldhouse at halftime Monday night.

The University of Kansas Jayhawks, the nation’s top-ranked college basketball team, trailed Cal State Long Beach, 35-21, but most of the 15,800 spectators who swizzled soft drinks and wolfed down popcorn were confident.

“We’ll come back in this one,” said a man in a plaid shirt.

But with two minutes left, and Long Beach ahead by 21 points, the fans reluctantly headed for the turnstiles.

The 64-49 Long Beach victory was, without doubt, the biggest athletic accomplishment in school history, bigger than the basketball victory Jan. 7 that snapped Nevada Las Vegas’ 29-game winning streak.

On paper, the stunning victory seemed impossible. It came on the heels of the 49ers’ 95-61 loss Saturday to unranked Virginia Commonwealth University at Richmond, Va. That was the 49ers’ second loss in three games.

Long Beach was a 15-point underdog to Kansas, which entered the game with a 16-1 record.

Tuesday morning, as the Midwestern sun rose over snow-covered farmland, shellshocked Kansans were still trying to assess what went wrong.

“Cal State who?” blurted a disc jockey on a Kansas City radio station. “They were good, but who?”

Columnist Gib Twyman of the Kansas City Star called the game “the mother lode of all upsets.”

Kansas Coach Roy Williams said it was a “nightmare.”

Before dawn, tired Long Beach players assembled in the lobby of their hotel for the long trip home, which included two bus rides and a three-hour flight from Kansas City. Most had not slept, choosing instead to watch highlights of their victory on all-night television programs.

“I couldn’t wait to call home to tell them we beat KU,” said forward Bryon Russell.

Coach Seth Greenberg, in gold sweater and jeans, fought off a cold. Bags were under his eyes as he explained that he was going to call a Los Angeles talk radio station from the Kansas City airport for an interview.

“We’ve got to go with all the attention we’re getting while we’re getting it,” said Greenberg, who believes that Monday night’s victory, which improved the team’s record to 14-3, would play a big role in his efforts to attract top players to Long Beach.

The team arrived at the airport ahead of schedule for its 9:30 a.m. flight and headed for the only fast-food restaurant that was open.

“We’ve still got to play Santa Barbara Saturday,” said center Chris Tower, who had 15 points against Kansas. “We can’t let up.”

Guard Lucious Harris, whose 24 points made him the school’s career scoring leader, called the victory over Kansas “big,” but said it wasn’t what he will remember most about his career.

“Beating Vegas, because I had never done that before, was better,” he said.

Injured starter Rod Hannibal, who did not play because of an injured ankle, had mixed emotions. “I felt a part of it, and then, again, I didn’t,” he said.

Greenberg browsed through a magazine shop. Stacks of newspapers heralded the 49ers’ victory.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered.

The 6-foot-10 Tower and 6-8 Mike Atkinson were the last to board the plane, purposely making a grand entrance.

Greenberg and trainer Dan Bailey received upgrades to first-class seats. Players booed them as they disappeared behind a drawn curtain.

Later, some players napped in the back of the plane. A few listened to a tape of Monday night’s radio broadcast.

Somewhere over Arizona, a flight attendant handed Greenberg a bottle of champagne.

“We’d like to congratulate the Long Beach State basketball team,” said pilot James Walsh on the intercom as the plane descended into Los Angeles International Airport. “They had a big win last night.”

The cabin broke into applause.

A few well-wishers greeted the 49ers at the terminal. Harris received balloons.

Greenberg held his daughter, Paige, and received a hug from his wife, Karen, who brought newspaper accounts of the game.

As they rode a bus along Century Boulevard, reality hit the players. The game was history, classes were back in session and draped on every street light along the route were banners welcoming travelers to Sunday’s Super Bowl.