Strong First Half Gives Way In Second Half For LBSU At No. 14 Arizona

Sunday, November 24

Tucson, Ariz.

5:30 p.m.

Long Beach State University

2-4,0-0Big West

104

Arizona

6-0,0-0Pac-12

Long Beach St.

Arizona

104

Strong First Half Gives Way In Second Half For LBSU At No. 14 Arizona

11/24/2019 8:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - Arizona

Long Beach State plays in the Wooden Legacy next starting Thanksgiving.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

TUCSON, Ariz. – A Max De Geest jumper with 3:16 left in the first half gave Long Beach State a 31-30 lead on the road at No. 14 Arizona, but the Wildcats would take back the lead before the half and pulled away in the second as the Beach fell Sunday in Tucson 104-67.

                Long Beach State (2-4) looked poised to shock the No. 14 team in the nation at home through the first 20 minutes. Absorbing an early push from Arizona (6-0), the Beach trailed by nine at 13-4 but bounced back, cutting the lead to one as Jordan Roberts hit a jumper to make the score 15-14 with just over 10 minutes to play.

                Arizona would push the lead to nine, but Long Beach State once more had an answer. Trailing 28-19, Long Beach State found Joshua Morgan inside to spark a 9-0 run, bringing the Beach all the way even at 28-28. After an Arizona bucket, De Geest's second three of the game put the Beach in front.

                The well would run dry at that point, though, and LBSU closed the half without a field goal but still only trailed by five at 38-33.

                Long Beach State opened the second half with a basket from Romelle Mansel to drop the lead to three, but Arizona responded in a big way. The Wildcats were able to start scoring in transition, and took advantage, finishing with 34 fast break points on the evening. That running style helped Arizona start the half on a 17-6 run.

                That coincided with the Wildcats getting hot from outside, shooting 9-for-17 in the second half that helped Arizona pick up separation from Long Beach State.

                Michael Carter III was part of a trio of triple-digit scorers for LBSU, joined by two freshman in De Geest and Morgan. Morgan also shared in the team lead in rebounding as the Beach were only beaten on the glass by three, 34-31.

                Long Beach State will return to Southern California to take part in the Wooden Legacy, playing three games as part of the tournament at the Anaheim Convention Center. Every game will be televised on the ESPN family of networks, starting with the opener as Long Beach State plays Providence at 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving, broadcast nationally on ESPNU.