LONG BEACH STATE NOTEBOOK / JASON REID : 49ers Counting on Dependable Atkinson to Lead Them in Tough Spots

With about six minutes to play Wednesday against Montana, Long Beach forward Mike Atkinson committed his fourth foul.

The 49ers had a seven-point lead and were playing at The Pyramid, so Coach Seth Greenberg could have followed the safe, textbook scenario: take Atkinson out of the game for a few minutes to prevent him from fouling out with the outcome still undecided.

However, Greenberg played the risky hand--and won.

Atkinson stayed in the game, made big plays down the stretch and scored a game-high 19 points in leading the 49ers to a 79-69 nonconference victory. No matter the circumstances, Greenberg knows he can rely on Atkinson.

“Mike is our anchor in the front court,� Greenberg said. “He knows what we want to do. He makes everything work up front.�

Atkinson, 6 feet 7 and 235 pounds, leads the 49ers in scoring at 15.5 points per game. He averages four rebounds. Greenberg has many players new to the program, and Atkinson is a steadying force for the 49ers (3-1).

“I have to provide some leadership,� Atkinson said. “We’ve got a lot of new guys and they’re trying to learn their roles.�

Atkinson’s role is to score and play tough defense, both of which he does well. He’s one of the better players in the nation around the basket.

He led the nation in field-goal percentage last season at 69.5%, making 141 of 203 of his shots. He averaged 15.4 points and four rebounds and was selected second-team All-Big West Conference.

“I shoot most of my shots only a few feet away (from the basket), so they better go in,� Atkinson said.

Having received a degree in criminal justice after last season, Atkinson is currently working on a master’s degree in the same field. He hopes to become a secret service agent.

“It’s a good way to make a living and raise a family,� Atkinson said. “They like athletes for the protection work because of all the running and physical things involved.�

And if some team wants Atkinson to play for pay?

“I’ll go play in Europe or somewhere else in a minute,� Atkinson said. “But if that call doesn’t come, I’ll have something really good to fall back on.�

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Finally, new faces: Because of final exams, Long Beach didn’t play for 15 days after being upset, 64-58, by Cal State Northridge.

Atkinson said practice during the time off was especially difficult.

“We were banging on each other so much,� he said. “We were all really angry after the Northridge game, and we went at it in practice.

“We were all glad when the Montana game finally came. And it also felt good to get a win.�

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Big Joe on the go: Senior center Joe McNaull, a transfer from San Diego State, is starting to assert himself.

McNaull (6-10, 255) had 10 points and 10 rebounds against Montana, and played aggressively around the basket.

“Joe played the way we want Joe to play,� Greenberg said. “He can give us a presence we haven’t had at Long Beach.�

McNaull, who averages six points and five rebounds, said he now feels comfortable.

“When you sit out a year, I think it takes some time to get adjusted to things,� he said. “I’m getting there now, and that’s showing.�

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The thief of Long Beach: Junior point guard Rasul Salahuddin is tied for the Division I lead in steals with an average of five per game, according to the NCAA leaders list released Dec. 19.

Salahuddin, who has 20 steals in four games, is tied with Louisville’s Tick Rogers, who has 35 in seven games. Salahuddin also averages nine points and 6.3 assists.

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Back in the mix: Senior forward Terrance O’Kelley, suspended from the Montana game by Greenberg because of his academic performance, will play with the 49ers in Michigan State’s Spartan Classic on Thursday and Friday at East Lansing, Mich.

O’Kelley (6-7, 245), who was eligible according to NCAA and school standards, averages 6.7 points and a team-leading five rebounds. He was a third-team All-Big West selection as a junior.