Beach Battles But Falls At No. 18 Saint Mary’s 81-63

Thursday, November 14

Moraga, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

Long Beach State University

1-3,0-0Big West

Saint Mary's

2-1,0-0WCC

Long Beach St.

Saint Mary's (CA)

11/14/2019 10:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - Saint Mary's

Colin Slater led Long Beach State with 14 points against the Gaels.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

MORAGA, Calif. – Long Beach State led early but career nights from Tommy Kuhse and Matthias Tass carried No. 18 Saint Mary's to an 81-63 victory over the Beach Thursday night.

                Long Beach State (1-3) grabbed the momentum early, as Colin Slater hit a three to put the Beach up five, and then a monster dunk from Chance Hunter had the Beach up 9-4 after the first four minutes.

                Saint Mary's (2-1) would recover with a run to tie the game at 11-11, and take the lead at 14-13 following a 3-pointer from Malik Fitts. The Gaels would continue to hold on to the lead, but Long Beach State stayed tough behind 12-first half points from Colin Slater. Long Beach State trailed by single-digits in the closing minute of the first half, and went into the locker room within reach of the Gaels at 41-31.

                In the second half, the Gaels started hot, ultimately finishing 12-for-20 from three, and went on a 14-4 run to extend their lead to 20. Eventually Saint Mary's would take a 24-point edge on a 3-pointer from Jordan Ford, but the Beach refused to give in.

                Freshman Romelle Mansel stared a run for the Beach, and a jumper from Jordan Griffin would cut the Gaels advantage to 14 points at 72-58, capping a 10-0 run. A three from Griffin would get the Beach to a 13-point deficit at 74-61, but the comeback would run out of time as Elijah Thomas hit a three to push the edge back up to 17 with 1:23 remaining.

                Mansel set a new career high with eight points in his first career start, while Slater led the team with 14 points on the night and Hunter added 13. Long Beach State did a good job defensively limiting the stars of the Gaels; Jordan Ford and Malik Fitts came into the game averaging 24 and 17 points respectively, and the Beach limited the duo to 10 and 6 points. The No. 18 team in the country found their offense in other places though, as Matthias Tass finished with 22 points while Tommy Kuhse added 20 points along with eight assists.

                Long Beach State will how head home and get a brief respite before hosting Fresno Pacific next Friday night at 7 p.m. in the Walter Pyramid.