Road Trip For LBSU Continues At West Virginia Monday

11/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Nov. 19, 2017

Long Beach, Calif. -

Game: Long Beach State at West Virginia
Date: Monday, November 20, 2017
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Morgantown, W.V.
Arena: WVU Coliseum (14,000)
TV: AT&T Sportsnet
TV Talent: Rob King, Warren Baker
Radio: AM 830 KLAA
Radio Talent: Jason Schwartz
Webcast: N/A
Live Stats: WVUsports.com

RIGHT AWAY
• Continuing the longest road swing of the year, Long Beach State will face its first ranked opponent of the season, facing off against No. 24 West Virginia on Monday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT from the WVU Coliseum. The game will be televised live on AT&T Sportsnet and will also be live on the radio in Southern California on AM 830.

• Monday's game is a non-bracketed game of the Advocare Invitational, which both teams are taking part in. The two teams are on opposite sides of the bracket to be played in Orlando, guaranteeing three games from November 23-26.

• The game between the Beach and the Mountaineers is only the second time the two programs have met. The teams previously played in the 76 Classic (Now the Wooden Legacy) in Anaheim, with WVU coming away with the victory.

• Through three games, senior Barry Ogalue is leading the team in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game. Ogalue is also averaging 5.7 rebound as he plays a key role that began in a second-half turnaround last season for the senior that saw the Yuba CC transfer go from limited minutes to starting both games of the Big West Tournament.

• Bryan Alberts has topped his career high in back-to-back games, leading the Beach in scoring in both as the Gonzaga graduate transfer begins to shine in Long Beach. In his third season in Spokane last year, Alberts played in 24 games and reached the National Championship game, which is the furthest any player to wear an LBSU uniform has gone in the postseason.

• Early free throw returns for the Beach have been outstanding, not coming in lower than 75% in any game. As a whole, the team is shooting 78.7 percent overall from the line, and ranks in the nation's top 15 against Division I opponents.

THE PLAYERS
• Two players for Long Beach State earned preseason honors, as both Temidayo Yussuf and Gabe Levin were selected for the six-player Preseason All-Big West team, selected by the media covering the conference. Both have previously earned All-Big West honors, and look to anchor the team this season as both begin their fourth year at the Beach.

• Yussuf went on to earn second-team All-Big West honors last season, joining Levin as returners who have earned the honor, as Levin won in 2015-16. Despite this being the fourth year in the program for both players, the two have yet to play a Big West game together.

• In 2016-17, Temidayo Yussuf led the Big West in field goal percentage over conference play at .578 and averaged 13.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game over league action, ultimately earning second-team All-Big West honors. Yussuf is the top scorer that finished the season among returners for the Beach, averaging 9.4 points and 4.6 rebounds on the year.

• Senior Gabe Levin has gotten off to a quick start, averaging just under a double-double after three games at 11.7 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game. Levin had back-to-back double-doubles against North Carolina and Louisville one year ago, but suffered a knee injury prior to conference play missed the remained of the season after undergoing successful surgery.

• Mason Riggins has missed just one shot in 2017-18 after starting all three of the team's opening games. The junior has started 30 games in his career, and is a 8-for-9 this season after shooting a 54.5 percent from the floor one year ago.

• Jordan Griffin began the 2017-18 season with a hot hand, starting the season 9-for-14 from behind the arc while scoring 10 points per game. Griffin is part of a trio of sophomores who will be counted on to continue to contribute this season, joining LaRond Williams and Javonntie Jackson. Williams is tied for the team lead with three blocks, while scoring six points with six rebounds against SFSU.

• Deishuan Booker has begun the season as the starter at point guard, and with 10 assists against San Francisco State, joined Justin Bibbins and Casper Ware as the only two players to record double-digit assists for the Beach since 2010. The junior college transfer from Nevada is averaging 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

• Edon Maxhuni has also impressed at the point guard position, as the true freshman has scored in double-figures in two straight games, including scoring 16 at Oregon State, and was one of the surprises of the preseason. Maxhuni has extensive international experience, playing for the Finland Youth National Team in multiple competitions, and is settling well into Division I basketball.

• KJ Byers got off to a quick start, showcasing his athleticism in the season opener against the Dons. Byers had the most complete stat line of the night, scoring eight points with six rebounds while adding two assists, two blocks and two steals while making just one turnover and shooting 6-for-6 from the line. After three games, Byers leads the team in steals and is tied for third in assists.

• A slightly delayed start didn't slow down freshman Jordan Roberts in his first action with the team on Tuesday. The CIF Division II Player of the Year out of Ridgeview High School in Bakersfield, Roberts scored eight points in his debut for the Beach against San Francisco State after missing the opener against San Francsico.

• Senior Quentin Shropshire continues to contribute in a bench role, as the former track and field athlete at the Beach continues his two-sport story after ending the 2016-17 campaign in the rotation. Others rounding out the roster include his high school teammate Breamon Richard, and two expected redshirts in Milos Apic and Jaice Gardner.