Long Beach State University
UC Davis
Heartbreak For Long Beach State In Double-Overtime Classic
2/3/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Long Beach, Calif. - Gabe Levin tied the Long Beach State single-game scoring record set by Ed Ratleff in 1970 with 45 points, but a TJ Shorts 3-pointer in the closing seconds made the accomplishment bittersweet as UC Davis came away with the win, 105-104 in double-overtime.
Levin was a force inside, finishing nine rebounds and four blocks in addition to his 45 total points, matching the former first-team All-American, Olympian and NBA pro Ed Ratleff for the Long Beach State record set 47 years ago. Levin was 10-for-20 from the floor and 24-of-28 from the free throw line, setting the Big West's free throws made and attempted records in the process.
With 20 tie scores and 16 lead changes, the game was back and forth through both overtimes. Neither team led by more than one possession in either overtime period. That was true even though the final seconds, as Deishuan Booker drove the lane for his only basket of the night, but one that put Long Beach State (12-14, 6-4 Big West) ahead 104-102 with six seconds remaining.
UC Davis (16-7, 7-2 Big West) was able to find Shorts on the ensuing inbounds, and Shorts closed out a huge night with a 3-pointer to give the Aggies the win, as the junior point guard led UCD with 31 points.
Long Beach State won the battle of the boards 48-39, and had 22 second-chance points, but it was UC Davis that was able to get inside consistently, scoring 56 points in the paint as Shorts and Siler Schneider each had big nights getting to the basket. Schneider finished with 27 points.
Bryan Alberts had a strong first half for Long Beach State, scoring nine points on the way to his first double-figure game since December 16. His third three gave the Beach a 34-33 lead, but a layup from Arell Hennings in the closing seconds put the Aggies in front 35-34.
In the second half, Long Beach State opened the largest lead of the game at 50-40 on a Levin lay-in over the first five minutes, but the Aggies chipped away at that lead, tying the game at 62. Heading down the stretch, the Beach took an 82-80 lead on a pair of free throws by Levin, but a Shorts basket tied the game at 82-82, and Byers shot was off the mark to send the game to overtime.
In the first overtime, UC Davis took a 91-88 lead with just under two minutes to play, but an and-one from Levin tied the game at 91-91, and while a Shorts lay-in gave the Aggies a late lead, Levin sank two free throws to tie the game and send the contest into double overtime.
Long Beach State will have a week off before their next game, when the Beach hosts Cal Poly at 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 10. The game will be televised live on Fox Sports West, and will feature a Long Beach State football reunion as well as a LBSU youth football t-shirt jersey giveaway.
