Men’s Basketball To Take First International Tour Under Dan Monson
6/28/2019 2:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Beach will head to Costa Rica for eight days in August.
During the trip Long Beach State will play three international exhibition games against local competition as well as a pair of tours and service opportunities over the course of eight days in Costa Rica.
"We have not taken a foreign tour in my 12 year tenure, but with a very inexperienced team and nine newcomers we felt like this was the perfect opportunity to do so," said head coach Dan Monson. "We are all very excited and grateful for the support from our administration and boosters who made it happen. Not only will this trip hopefully be beneficial for us as a basketball team, but the off the court and cultural activities should be lifetime experiences for our student athletes.
NCAA rules allow programs to take an offseason international tour once every four years, and in addition to the opportunity for a spectacular travel experience, Beach Basketball will also get the opportunity for 10 additional days of practice before taking the trip, getting an early start in the gym prior to the 2019-20 season.
Long Beach State has four returning letterwinners, and will rely on the trip to help integrate a squad that features three players coming off of redshirt seasons and an additional nine newcomers in 2019-20.
Men's Basketball becomes the second program at the Beach to experience a foreign tour this summer, as the Women's Soccer program went to France to experience the 2019 Women's World Cup as well as a pair of scrimmages against the Argentina Women's National Team.
Follow @LBSUHoops on Twitter for daily coverage of the trip, or check back here at www.longbeachstate.com for highlights each day throughout the trip.
Monday, August 12 - Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica
Bienvanidos a Costa Rica! Here we go! #GoBeach #PuraVida ???? ?? pic.twitter.com/xfHIFHhvVc
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 13, 2019
Tuesday, August 13 - Community Service and Game #1 vs. Panama All-Stars
Not sure who is having more fun! Smiles and laughs filling the gym today! #GiveBack #BigPicture @LBSUhoops @Colin_CTMD14 @Drew_cobb33 #GiveThanks pic.twitter.com/7mRKJPkttO
— Andy Fee (@TheAndyFee) August 13, 2019
Thank you #SpecialOlympics of Costa Rica! #GoBeach ???? #PuraVida pic.twitter.com/ONAvdvrKg7
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 13, 2019
Here's a look at some of the best from our first game here! #GoBeach #PuraVida pic.twitter.com/PtykTcTdsO
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 14, 2019
Wednesday, August 14 - Community Service and Game #2 vs. Panama All-Stars
Bienvanidos a la Escuela Panama! More time for @LBSUhoops to continue to interact with the local ???? community! #GoBeach #PuraVida pic.twitter.com/p5yn9Sq1Mp
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 14, 2019
Nothing but Good Vibes and Pura Vida today! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/TgTuyCGvfG
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 14, 2019
Get another look at tonight's 88-85 win over the Panama All-Stars here in Costa Rica! ???? pic.twitter.com/A38bkJyk6n
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 15, 2019
Thursday, August 15 - La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Game #3 vs. San Ramon ARBA
Also not just waterfalls but plenty of wildlife here at La Paz! pic.twitter.com/ovGIIZ8rrY
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 15, 2019
Great times here out in the outdoors! Next stop, the downtown market... #GoBeach #PuraVida pic.twitter.com/q4hvzZw5Kh
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 15, 2019
Two wins in two days here in Costa Rica! ???? Check out tonight's high-flying highlights from a big win to close out our final game of the trip! #GoBeach #PuraVida pic.twitter.com/JQsJ4jpwma
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 16, 2019
Friday, August 16 - Travel To Playa Conchal, Costa Rica
We've arrived! Ready to live that Pura Vida! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/kUyhxvlsWr
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 16, 2019
Great dinner to close out our first day at Playa Conchal! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/dsyCgwAG9z
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 17, 2019
Saturday, August 17 - Beach Day At Playa Conchal
Just another day at the Beach for @LBSUhoops! #GoBeach #PuraVida pic.twitter.com/ixKF2EJhnW
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 17, 2019
Sunday, August 18 - Zipline at Eco Diamante Adventure Park
Final team-building activity of our time here in Costa Rica... Zipline! Proud of our guys and great fun too! #GoBeach #PuraVida pic.twitter.com/CbQeHe7Ajc
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 18, 2019
Some Superman from the guys! pic.twitter.com/T3go8WNAzL
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) August 18, 2019
Monday, August 19 - Return Home To Long Beach, Calif.
