Black And Blue Rivalry Rematch Set For Semifinals

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Survive and advance for Long Beach State as the Beach moves on to the Big West Tournament semifinals, facing UC Irvine at 6:30 p.m. in the Honda Center. The game will be televised live on ESPN3, then broadcast on delay on ESPNU following the conclusion of the second semifinal.

Game:.................................. Long Beach State vs. UC Irvine
Date:................................................. Friday, March 15, 2019
Time:....................................................................... 6:30 p.m.
Location:....................................................... Anaheim, Calif.
Arena:............................................... Honda Center (18,336)
TV:............................................. Live-ESPN3; Delay-ESPNU
TV Talent:............................ Roxy Bernstein, Corey Williams
Radio:.................................... 22 West Radio, HD FM 88.1-3
Radio Talent:.............................................. Jason Schwartz
Webcast:........................................................... WatchESPN
Live Stats:.............................................. beachlivestats.com

RIGHT AWAY
• The Black and Blue Rivalry gets a third installment as the teams will meet in the semifinals for the third time in the last four years. Long Beach State knocked out the Anteaters in 2016 but UCI returned the favor, winning 62-57 two seasons ago.

• The two teams split the season series in 2019, with Long Beach State being the only team to defeat the 'Eaters in Big West play. The Beach rolled to an 80-70 win in Irvine behind 28 points from Deishuan Booker, but dropped the home return 82-80 in the closing seconds.

• Long Beach State moved on with an epic victory over Hawai'i in the Big West Quarterfinals. The Beach erased an 18-point lead for the UH in the game, and Jordan Roberts hit a game-winner in the final second in the 68-66 win. Roberts led LBSU with 18 points and 9 rebounds against the 'Bows. The deficit was the largest erased since 2008-09, when LBSU pulled back 23 points against Weber State.

• Deishuan Booker was selected First-Team All-Big West after his tremendous senior season campaign, where he averaged 23.3 points and 4.5 asists per game to lead Long Beach State. He was joined in all-conference recognition by fellow seniors Bryan Alberts and Mason Riggins, who both earned Honorable Mention. Alberts was second on the team in scoring in league play at 10.1 points per game with 29 made 3-pointers, while Riggins averaged 9.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in Big West action.

• All of the LBSU seniors have played a big role this season, but one in particular to watch is Temidayo Yussuf. Ranking in Long Beach State's career Top 10 in rebounding, Yussuf can become the 7th player to reach 1,000 points and 600 rebounds in his career in school history with 5 points and 1 rebound against Hawai'i.

• The Beach led the Big West in scoring at 76.0 points per game this conference season, and is a dangerous offensive team that had seven players average over 7.0 points per game in league play. Combine that with good defense and LBSU is tough to beat, a perfect 9-0 when holding foes under 70 points.

• Long Beach State continues to play exciting, up-tempo basketball, ranking the nation's Top 30 in tempo according to Ken Pomeroy. The Beach also features the 11th most experienced roster in the nation, and ranks in the Top 25 in minutes continuity.

FUN WITH FREE THROWS
• Deishuan Booker currently has the highest FT% in school history at 91.4%, in front of
Justin Bibbins from 2016-17 at 88.5%.
• Gabe Levin vs. Deishuan Booker. In the last two seasons, the pair have been two of the most productive free throw shooters in school history. The two rank 1-2 in FTM in one season at LBSU (Booker 245, Levin 180) as well as FTM in one game (Levin 24, Booker 19).
• In 2018-19, Booker has gone 12/12, 11/11, 10/10, 9/9, 8/8, 7/7 and 6/6 from the line.
• With LBSU and the Big West out of the way, the NCAA is next. Your DI record holder:
-- Frank Selvey (Furman, 1954-55) - 355-444; 79.9%
• In the last 11 games, Booker has made 97 of 99 free throws, shooting 98.0%.
• Booker has now made 53 straight free throws, breaking the Big West Record
(NCAA Single-Season Record - 73)

PLAYER NOTES
• Long Beach State boasts a six-player senior class, giving LBSU an older roster. Only two of the six seniors (Temidayo Yussuf and Mason Riggins) have spent more than two seasons at the Beach, with the other four transferring in from other schools, though all six played during the 2017-18 season for the Beach.

• Booker continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 18.8 points per game while guiding the offense, leading the team with 141 assists this season, averaging 4.4 per game, third in the Big West this season. He enters the Friday with 245 made free throws, leading the nation and is shooting over 90% on the year.

• The Beach has a tremendous record producing point guards, with LBSU's primary ball-handler earning either first or second-team All-Big West in nine of the last ten seasons, with six total first-team selections including Deishuan Booker this season.

• Senior center Temidayo Yussuf has been a beast inside for the Beach. The Oakland native has come back into form after a six-game absence earlier in the year. The senior made his return at Hawai'i in limited minutes, but scored 18 points with six rebounds in the second meeting against the Rainbow Warriors and put up a double-double in the win at Cal Poly.

• Yussuf established a new career high with 28 points at San Diego on Dec. 1. He was an impressive 10-of-13 from the field and 8-for-10 at the free throw line to lead the Beach.

• Senior forward Mason Riggins has been in the starting lineup 25 times this season and has gotten more involved for the Beach in league play. Setting a new career-high with 18 points against Hawai'i, Riggins averaged 9.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in conference play, earning Honorable Mention All-Big West. If Long Beach State reaches the Big West Tournament finals, Riggins will also pass Mike Caffey for the most games played at the Beach.

• Riggins leads the Beach in field goal percentage this season, making 61.6 percent of his shots from the floor. He was second in the Big West in shooting percentage in league play, and recorded his second double-double of the season at UC Davis.

• Also in the senior class, Bryan Alberts has been one of the leading perimeter weapons for the Beach in his second and final season in Long Beach. The Gonzaga transfer is third on the team in scoring with 10.5 points per game, and has made a team-leading 71 3-pointers, shooting 37.2 percent. Alberts scored 20 points with 6 3-pointers made in the team's win at CSUN and added 16 points in the win at UC Riverside, and also earned Honorable Mention honors along with Riggins.

• The remaining seniors on the team include x-factor KJ Byers, who is averaging 7.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game along with 34 blocks as a strong defensive presence and double-double threat. Also returning is a fellow junior college transfer Breamon Richard, who starred for two seasons at Long Beach City College before joining the Beach and earning a scholarship this season.

• Sophomore Edon Maxhuni has scored in double-figures 12 times on the year, and is shooting a team-best 41.9 percent from three. He is currently fifth on the team in scoring at 7.3 points per game, and is coming off of a career-high performance against UC Riverside, scoring 21 points in the regular season finale.

• Other sophomores making an impact this season include Jordan Roberts, a second-year player at the Beach who's averaging 7.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, as well as sophomore transfer Drew Cobb who has made 16 starts for the Beach as a defensive stopper.

Calendar

Players Mentioned

Bryan Alberts

Deishuan Booker

KJ Byers

Drew Cobb

Gabe Levin

Edon Maxhuni

Breamon Richard

Mason Riggins

Jordan Roberts

Temidayo Yussuf

Long Beach State University Athletics