Casper Ware (Long Beach, Calif./Gahr HS) helped Long Beach State to a couple of near upsets of two nationally ranked top 13 programs in earning Big West Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors.

The 49ers may have fallen on the road to both No. 13 Kansas (88-80) and No. 4 North Carolina (84-78), but gave them quite a scare in the process.

Ware was at the forefront of the upset push, asserting his presence especially against the Tar Heels.  He scored a career-high 29 points, including 21 in the first half as LBSU was staked to a 45-40 haltime lead.  Ware knocked down 12 of 24 shots, including 4 of 9 from three-point range while adding four rebounds and five assists.  Behind Ware’s offensive surge, the 49ers led North Carolina until midway through the second half.

Against the Jayhawks, Ware poured in 11 of his 19 points in the first half, allowing the 49ers to overcome an early 19-point deficit.  The 49ers eventually pulled to within four points late.  Ware finished that game with 16 points and four steals, hitting 7 of 8 attempts from the foul line.

For the week, the senior guard averaged 22.5 points, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game.  He connected at a 43.8 percent (7 of 16) from three-point land.

Others nominated:  Isiah Umipig (Cal State Fullerton);  Stephan Hicks (Cal State Northridge); Will Davis II (UC Irvine); Robert Smith (UC Riverside); Khalil Kelley (Pacific)