Beach Comes Up Just Short In Overtime Battle With Cal State Fullerton

Saturday, January 19

Long Beach, Calif.

7:00 P.M.

Long Beach State University

8-11, 2-1BWC

Cal State Fullerton

6-12, 2-2BWC

OT 1

Cal State Fullerton

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

Beach Comes Up Just Short In Overtime Battle With Cal State Fullerton

1/19/2019 10:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - Cal State Fullerton

Deishuan Booker scored 33 points in the loss for Long Beach State.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. – It was a thrilling game that lived up to every bit of its rivalry billing, but despite a major comeback for the Beach and another big scoring night from Deishuan Booker, Cal State Fullerton would ultimately prevail 92-90 in overtime.

                Long Beach State (8-11, 2-1 Big West) had the final possession in both the second half and in overtime, but was unable to make the critical basket on either occasion.

                The game featured two of the top guards in the Big West, and both Deishuan Booker for LBSU and Kyle Allman of the Titans had outstanding games as Allman scored 30 and Booker had 33 for Long Beach, State, adding five assists and five steals.

                Long Beach State dug an early hole that forced the Beach to really battle throughout the entirety of the contest. Cal State Fullerton (6-12, 2-2 Big West) took an early 23-13 lead, and while the Beach would cut the edge to two on an Edon Maxhuni 3-pointer, the Titans pushed the edge all the way back to 10 at 44-34 as Jackson Rowe's prayer at the buzzer was answered on a deep 3-pointer.

                The Beach came out of the locker room with a much better energy in the second half and immediately chipped away at the lead. With the Titans up by five at 51-46, Booker was able to complete a three-point play and then stole the ensuing inbounds for a lay-in to tie the game.

Deishuan says C'MON! Long Beach State has tied it up at 51!! pic.twitter.com/Qs7odqRbPI
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) January 20, 2019

That fight would continue to show as Long Beach State erased another Titan lead down the stretch in regulation. With just under three minutes to play, Cal State Fullerton led by eight at 77-69, but the Beach answered on the next possession with a three-point play from Mason Riggins, and then pulled to within one on a three from Maxhuni at 78-77. Booker would then give the Beach the lead at 79-78 on a drive with 43 second left, but Rowe made one of two at the line for the Titans on the next possession, leading the game into overtime.

In the extra five, Long Beach State's fatigue began to show as the Titans scored four points off of turnovers to take the lead. The Beach would tie the game at 86-86, but Johnny Wang tipped in an offensive rebound to keep the Titans on top. With Cal State Fullerton up four with 15 seconds to play, Booker knifed through the lane for a final layup, and then the Beach pressured the Titans into a turnover for a final opportunity for the win in the final eight seconds. Ultimately, Booker's final charge through the lane came up empty and Cal State Fullerton came away with the win.

Booker finishes with 33 points, but LBSU comes up just short in overtime against Cal State Fullerton, falling 92-90. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/gio77KL2PB
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) January 20, 2019

In addition to Booker's 33 points, Bryan Alberts added 13 while making a trio of 3-pointers. Maxhuni scored 11 off of the bench, and KJ Byers had his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds with a pair of blocks.

Long Beach State is on the road for their next game on Wednesday, January 23 at CSUN before returning to the Walter Pyramid to host UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, January 26. Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN3.