Saturday, December 21
Long Beach, Calif.
4 p.m.
Long Beach State University
4-9,0-0Big West
68
vs
65
Utah Valley
5-9,0-0WAC
1
2
F
Utah Valley
31
34
65
Long Beach St.
35
33
68
Photo by: John Fajardo
Guards Lead The Way In 68-65 Win Over Utah Valley
12/21/2019 7:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Michael Carter III, Colin Slater both finish with 15 points in the final home game of 2019 for Men’s Basketball.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Changing things up with a four-guard starting lineup paid off for Long Beach State, as the small lineup featured prominently in a 68-65 win over Utah Valley in the Walter Pyramid on Saturday.
Michael Carter III and Colin Slater shared the team lead with 15 points each, and Chance Hunter finished with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds on the night as Long Beach State (4-9) trailed for just nine seconds against the Wolverines.
Those three joined Max De Geest and Jordan Roberts in the starting five Saturday against Utah Valley (5-9). Utah Valley made the first basket of the game, but Slater made a quick three to answer and the Beach would push out to an early lead.
Tied at 17, Long Beach State got a lift from the return of Drew Cobb, another guard making a difference Saturday. After missing four games, Cobb strengthened the defense immediately and also chipped in a tough leaner as part of an 11-0 run to put the Beach in front 28-17. Utah Valley cut back into the lead, but the Beach went into the break on top 35-31.
Out of the locker room, Long Beach State went on a run capped by a massive fast break dunk by Roberts from De Geest, and were able to push out to a 13-point lead with just over seven minutes to play.
The Wolverines made things exciting in the final minutes, erasing a 13-point lead from the Beach with a 15-2 run that tied the game at 60 with 2:17 to play. Slater was able to turn back the momentum with a 3-pointer, and then on Long Beach State's next possession, Carter III hit from distance to put the Beach on top 66-62.
Joshua Morgan blocked Trey Woodbury's attempt in the paint with 1:06 remaining, and while a long three from TJ Washington cut the lead back to one at 66-65, Carter III sank two free throws and then a final shot from Washington was off-line in the final seconds.
The Beach finished with eight blocks on the night, led by four from Morgan, helping a defensive effort that saw Utah Valley shoot just 35.8 percent from the floor, a season-low for a Division I opponent.
Long Beach State will finish off a busy three-game stretch with a game on the road Monday at Seattle U. That game is scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m.
Michael Carter III and Colin Slater shared the team lead with 15 points each, and Chance Hunter finished with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds on the night as Long Beach State (4-9) trailed for just nine seconds against the Wolverines.
Those three joined Max De Geest and Jordan Roberts in the starting five Saturday against Utah Valley (5-9). Utah Valley made the first basket of the game, but Slater made a quick three to answer and the Beach would push out to an early lead.
Tied at 17, Long Beach State got a lift from the return of Drew Cobb, another guard making a difference Saturday. After missing four games, Cobb strengthened the defense immediately and also chipped in a tough leaner as part of an 11-0 run to put the Beach in front 28-17. Utah Valley cut back into the lead, but the Beach went into the break on top 35-31.
Out of the locker room, Long Beach State went on a run capped by a massive fast break dunk by Roberts from De Geest, and were able to push out to a 13-point lead with just over seven minutes to play.
Jordan Roberts!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/A5v6aiQEEf
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) December 22, 2019
The Wolverines made things exciting in the final minutes, erasing a 13-point lead from the Beach with a 15-2 run that tied the game at 60 with 2:17 to play. Slater was able to turn back the momentum with a 3-pointer, and then on Long Beach State's next possession, Carter III hit from distance to put the Beach on top 66-62.
Colin Slater with a big bucket - Beach leading Utah Valley here in the closing minutes. #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/ocWZXHdl86
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) December 22, 2019
Joshua Morgan blocked Trey Woodbury's attempt in the paint with 1:06 remaining, and while a long three from TJ Washington cut the lead back to one at 66-65, Carter III sank two free throws and then a final shot from Washington was off-line in the final seconds.
The Beach finished with eight blocks on the night, led by four from Morgan, helping a defensive effort that saw Utah Valley shoot just 35.8 percent from the floor, a season-low for a Division I opponent.
Long Beach State will finish off a busy three-game stretch with a game on the road Monday at Seattle U. That game is scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m.
Team Stats
UVU
LBSU
FG%
.358
.417
3FG%
.281
.368
FT%
.571
.733
RB
43
38
TO
16
12
STL
3
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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