Beach Can’t Sustain Strong Start in Loss at No. 17 Mississippi State

Friday, November 16

Starkville, Miss.

6:00 p.m.

Long Beach State University

1-3

Mississippi State

3-0

Long Beach State

Mississippi State

Photo by: John Fajardo

Beach Can’t Sustain Strong Start in Loss at No. 17 Mississippi State

11/16/2018 9:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Long Beach State opened the game well on Friday night in Starkville, leading 24-16 after 10 minutes against a Top 20 foe, but the Bulldogs were able to pull away for a 79-51 win on their home floor.

By: Tyler Hendrickson, Associate Athletic Communications Director

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A hot start for Long Beach State (1-3) allowed the Beach to lead for most of the first half on Friday night against No. 17 Mississippi State (3-0), but the Bulldogs turned the tide to earn a 79-51 victory at Humphrey Coliseum. It was Long Beach State's second loss of the season on the road against a Top 25 as the Beach fell to 0-3 away from Walter Pyramid this season.

Seniors KJ Byers and Bryan Alberts each had eight points to lead the Beach in scoring, both hitting a pair of 3-pointers on the night. Mason Riggins, Jordan Roberts and Temidayo Yussuf each had five rebounds to lead LBSU on the boards.

Long Beach led for over 13 minutes in the first half, using a 7-0 run to gain some separation at 19-12 with 12:51 to play in the half, thanks to Byers' second 3-pointer of the half. A triple from Alberts gave LBSU its largest lead of eight points with just under 10 minutes until the break, as LBSU led 24-16. When Mason Riggins scored with 6:08 on the clock to make it 28-21, he was the ninth Beach player to score in the opening 14 minutes, as the offense displayed terrific balance. Unfortunately, that was the last time LBSU would score in the opening stanza as MSU closed the half on a 15-0 run.

Junior Jordan Griffin hit a pair of three's in the second half, helping the Beach go 7-16 (43.8 %) from beyond the arc, better than the Bulldogs 4-23 (17.4%) on the night.

There was a new look in the starting five on Friday as Byers, Edon Maxhuni, and Ron Freeman each earned their first start of the season.

Next up for the Beach is a trip to Las Vegas for the MGM Resorts Main Event Middleweight Bracket at Cox Pavilion. LBSU's first game is against Iona College on Monday at 2 p.m., with a matchup against either Hartford or Utah Valley waiting on Wednesday.