Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State Continues Homestand Saturday Against UCSB
1/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Long Beach, Calif. -
Complete Long Beach State Game Notes (UCSB) 
Game: Long Beach State vs. UC Santa Barbara
Date: Saturday, January 17, 2015
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Arena: Walter Pyramid (4,200)
TV: ESPN3
TV Talent: Trent Schlom, Richie Schueler
Radio: KBEACH.org; HD 88.1-3
Radio Talent: Rob Brender
Webcast: WatchESPN
Live Stats: longbeachstate.com
RIGHT AWAY
• Mike Caffey is leading the Beach with 17.7 points and 3.6 assists per game, while averaging 3.7 rebounds a contest. A 2014-15 Lou Henson Award Watch List selection (Best Mid-Major Player), Caffey is a two-time first-team All-Big West selection heading into his senior year, and Caffey can join Larry Anderson, Francois Wise, and Ed Ratleff as the only 49ers to be a three-time First-Team All-Big West honoree. Caffey was also selected to the Wooden Legacy All-Tournament Team, averaging 20 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists while leading Beach to a third place finish.
• Caffey was named the Big West Player of the Week for his efforts last week despite a split to open Big West play. Caffey averaged 28 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3.5 steals per game last week, leading the 49ers to a win over UC Irvine with 27 points before tying a career high with 29 points in an overtime loss at UC Davis.
• Caffey reached two major milestones last week. The senior moved into the Long Beach State Top 10 in points scored, and comes into Saturday's game with 1,447 points in his career at the Beach. Caffey also passed 400 assists in his career, where he ranks 7th in school history, along with 150 steals, where he also ranks 7th at LBSU.
• Now with 126 wins in his career, Dan Monson recorded win No. 123 in a 73-70 win over Xavier in with Long Beach State and passed Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry Tarkanian for the most as the head coach of the 49ers. Monson received a contract extension this offseason, and is committed to the Beach through the 2018-19 season. Monson is three wins away from another milestone victory, No. 300 in his 18th year as a head coach.
• Long Beach State has had nine different players reach double-figures in 2014-15, and is using a rotation of 11 players in one of the deepest teams in recent 49er history. Mike Caffey has scored in double figures in 17 games, and has been joined in that club this season by Tyler Lamb, David Samuels, McKay LaSalle, Branford Jones, Eric McKnight, and three freshmen in Deontae North, Jack Williams and Temidayo Yussuf.
THE PLAYERS
• Tyler Lamb returned to the starting lineup after missing the first two games, and had a great start, scoring 17 points with three rebounds and two blocks. Lamb is averaging 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in 2014-15 with the 49ers, second on the team in both categories.
• Forward David Samuels has started each game in his senior season after starting 29 games for the Beach as a junior college transfer last season. Samuels picked up his fourth double-double with the Beach in LBSU's 69-60 win over Kansas State, and is averaging 8.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this season, leading the team in rebounding and sitting third in scoring.
• Branford Jones has adjusted to a number of roles this season, averaging 7.7 points per game. The sophomore has saved his best for some of the 49ers' biggest games, leading the team in scoring with 14 points against Kansas State and scoring 13 points in LBSU's win over Xavier. Jones also led the team in scoring at No. 5 Louisville. In his latest return to the starting lineup, Jones has scored in double-figures against both Fresno Pacific and UC Irvine, and scored eight points at UC Davis.
• Eric McKnight had his best week as a 49er at Syracuse and Louisville. A starter for Florida Gulf Coast's "Dunk City" team that reached the Sweet 16, McKnight joined the Beach this season as a graduate transfer for his final year of eligibility. McKnight had a season high 14 points at Syracuse, tying for the team lead, and then had a team high seven rebounds at No. 5 Louisville.
• Temidayo Yussuf had a breakout tournament in the Wooden Legacy. Making his first three collegiate starts, Yussuf scored six points with a career high seven rebounds in the opening game over Western Michigan, and followed that performance with 16 points and six rebounds against Washington. Yussuf closed the tournament with 15 points and five boards against Xavier, averaging 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds on the weekend. Yussuf's strong turn continued against Nevada, as the freshman picked up his first double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
• All four of Long Beach State's freshman played in the CIF state championships in 2013, with three, Jack Williams, Justin Bibbins and Temidayo Yussuf all winning the state title with their high school teams. Bibbins and Williams were also both named the Wooden Player of the Year for their respective division.
• Long Beach State will have four players redshirt during 2014-15 - Senior A.J. Spencer is out for the year with an ACL tear, while Nick Faust (Maryland) and Roschon Prince (USC) can practice with the team, but must sit out this season as NCAA Division I transfers. Additionally, Alex Rifkind is redshirting as a freshman.
• Joining Prince and Faust as a Division I transfer is Gabe Levin, who was added to the LBSU roster in January. A 6-7 forward, Levin started 29 games for Loyola Marymount last season and averaged 11.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, setting a Lions record with six double-doubles as a true freshman.
ABOUT UC SANTA BARBARA
• Defending Big West Player of the Year Alan Williams is the star player for the Gauchos, and has lived up to his billing in 2014-15, averaging 17.1 points per game and leading the nation with 11.8 rebounds per game.
• Success has been mixed for the Guachos, however, coming into the game with a 8-8 overall record and a 1-1 mark in conference play. UCSB started Big West play with a 50-45 win at Cal Poly, but took a shocking loss against CSUN last Thursday, 74-63.
• UC Santa Barbara is the 49ers' most common opponent in Men's Basketball. Saturday's matchup will be the 119th meeting between the teams, with Long Beach State holding a slim 61-57 lead in the all-time series.
• The teams met in three straight Big West Tournament Championship games from 2009-10 through 2011-12, with UCSB winning two straight before the Beach prevailed in 2011-12.
• UCSB swept the season series last season, ending a five-game winning streak for the Beach. In the last meeting, UC Santa Barbara was able to hold off the 49ers in the Walter Pyramid 65-64 on a Michael Bryson game-winner. Williams finished with 16 points and Bryson scored 15, while Tyler Lamb led the 49er effort with 13 points.
UP NEXT
• Conference play continues for the Beach as Long Beach State travels to CSUN on Saturday, January 24. The game will be the third on a row for the 49ers on ESPN3, and is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m.
