Long Beach State Begins Wooden Legacy Journey On Thanksgiving Against Providence

Thursday, November 28

Anaheim, Calif.

11 a.m.

Long Beach State University

Providence

Photo by: John Fajardo

Long Beach State Begins Wooden Legacy Journey On Thanksgiving Against Providence

11/26/2019 1:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes - Providence

The Beach will be participating in the Paycom Wooden Legacy for the third time.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- For the third time in program history, Long Beach State will be taking part in the Paycom Wooden Legacy over Thanksgiving weekend. The Beach starts on Thanksgiving Day, taking on Providence in the opening game of the tournament at 11 a.m. on ESPNU.

Game:............................... Long Beach State vs. Providence
Date:..................................... Thursday, November 28, 2019
Time:.......................................................................... 11 a.m.
Location:....................................................... Anaheim, Calif.
Arena:.......................... Anaheim Convention Center (7,500)
TV:............................................................................. ESPNU
TV Talent:............................... Eric Rothman, Corey Williams
Radio:.................................... 22 West Radio, HD FM 88.1-3
Radio Talent:.............................................. Jason Schwartz
Webcast:........................................................... WatchESPN
Live Stats:.............................................. beachlivestats.com

RIGHT AWAY
• The Wooden Legacy will feature some new opponents for the Beach. Long Beach State has never played against their first round opponent, Providence, or either of their potential foes in the second round in College of Charleston or Wake Forest.

• In both of Long Beach State's prior appearances in the Wooden Legacy, the Beach has had a player named to the All-Tournament team. In 2009, TJ Robinson averaged 20.0 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, while in 2014 Mike Caffey also averaged 20.0 points per game to lead the Beach.

• The Beach picked up notable wins in both of their previous trips to the tournament as well. In 2009, the "Fab Four" led by Robinson defeated UCLA for the first time, 79-68 as the program's met for the first time outside of Pauley Pavilion since 1972. In 2014, Mike Caffey scored 24 points in the third-place game to lead the Beach to a 73-70 win over Xavier, the best finish for the program in the Wooden Legacy.

• Long Beach State will be "playing the kids" this season, as the Beach turns to nine newcomers to the program in three transfers and six incoming freshman. Additionally, three redshirts also return to the program, giving the Beach just four returning letterwinners entering the season to go with 12 players returning for their first full year. The Beach has turned to that group, with all but 3 of 30 available starts going to first-year players in 2019-20.

LONG BEACH STATE
• Long Beach State has officially changed the nickname for all sports other than baseball to Beach with the NCAA. Please do not refer to LBSU basketball as the 49ers.

• Long Beach State has turned over nearly the entire roster in 2018-19.The Beach returns just 15.2 points per game from last season, a total of 20.2%, the lowest since Dan Monson's first year with the program with the team returned 5.9 points per game, just 7.2 percent of the total coming back from the 2006-07 season. That rates as among the lowest points returning in the nation; fifth lowest as total points and sixth lowest in total percentage.

• With 11 players making their debut this season for Long Beach State, that also ranks among the most in the nation. Only TCU (13), Nebraska (12), East Carolina (12) and Utah (12) will have more in 2019-20.

PLAYER NOTES
• Sophomore Chance Hunter has wasted no time getting adjusted to life at the Beach. A transfer from Cerritos College, Hunter scored 19 points on the road at UCLA before leading the team with 21 points against San Diego to go with a team-high nine rebounds. Hunter leads the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game, and is tied for the team best at 4.5 rebounds per game with freshman Joshua Morgan.

• Michael Carter III has started every game at the point this year for Long Beach State and has been a key player for the Beach. A Division I transfer from Washington, Carter III leads the team in assists at 3.0 per game and is second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game while also sharing in the team lead in steals.

• Junior Colin Slater has been in the starting lineup for the Beach in every game this season. A transfer from Tulane, Slater played in 60 games with the Green Wave before joining the Beach as a redshirt last season. His best performance so far came in the team's home win over San Diego, scoring a career-high 19 points, and he is third on the team in scoring at 8.2 points per game.

• LBSU's lone senior, Jordan Griffin is a dangerous outside shooter who is closing in on a career milestone. With 92 career 3-pointers, Griffin is eight away becoming the 16th player in school history to make 100 3-pointers. Griffin is averaging 7.0 points per game and shooting 57.1 percent from the field.

• LBSU returns one other junior in Drew Cobb. Earning a scholarship as a defensive stopper, Cobb started 17 of the final 19 games of the season a year ago, and generally drew the job of guarding the opposing team's best perimeter player. This year, coming off of the bench, Cobb is averaging 5.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

• Freshman Joshua Morgan has been a bright spot among the young players this season. Making a block in the team's first five games, Morgan has started since the home opener and is averaging 7.3 points per game on 77.3% shooting and is tied for the team lead in rebounds at 4.5 per game.

• Both freshman bigs have been starting together as Romelle Mansel has been in the five since the Stanford game. Averaging 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, the 6-9 Mansel has been a strong complement to Morgan inside, and has been active defensively with six steals.

• Max De Geest has been another freshman who has made an impact. A strong outside shooter from New Zealand, the freshman guard is averaging 6.2 points per game and is shooting 43.8 percent from beyond the arc, making eight 3-pointers so far in 2019-20.

• Long Beach State's first 7-footer since Mike Vantrimpont in the 2011-12 season, Trever Irish is also looking to make a statement after returning from injury. Despite missing most of the 2018-19 campaign, Irish was a star at Central Arizona College, averaging 14.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game as a true freshman in 2017-18. While still rounding into game shape, Irish has contributed with 3.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

• Jordan Roberts is one of the returners for Long Beach State. A 6-9 junior, Roberts averaged 8.4 points per game in Big West play last season, and scored over 15 points in five of the team's last eight games a year ago, including a career-high on the road at UC Davis.

• Breyon Jackson is back with the program after receiving a medical waiver following the 2018-19 campaign. Jackson played in the first eight games of the season, including scoring four points in a season-high 17 minutes against Mississippi State. Ultimately, Jackson was sidelined at the start of December, and did not return last year after transfering from Cloud County CC.

• Long Beach State's incoming freshman class is one of the largest high school groups in program history, featuring Joshua Morgan, Romelle Mansel, Max De Geest, RJ Rhoden, Justin Rene and Shaden Knight.