Men's Basketball Heads To Cal Poly For Critical Road Contest

Wednesday, February 5

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

Cal Poly

Photo by: Darnell Wade

Men's Basketball Heads To Cal Poly For Critical Road Contest

2/4/2020 9:51:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes - Cal Poly

Long Beach State has won three straight on the road in San Luis Obispo.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State faces a critical road test Wednesday as the Beach heads north to face Cal Poly. The Beach will be looking to improve to 2-2 on the road in league play with a victory, while Cal Poly has not won away from Mott Athletics Center this season.

Game:...................................... Long Beach State at Cal Poly
Date:...................................... Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Time:............................................................................ 7 p.m.
Location:........................................... San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Arena:...................................... Mott Athletics Center (3,032)
TV:................................................................................... N/A
TV Talent:........................................................................ N/A
Radio:.................................... 22 West Radio, HD FM 88.1-3
Radio Talent:.............................................. Jason Schwartz
Webcast:............................................................. gopoly.com
Live Stats:.............................................. beachlivestats.com

RIGHT AWAY
• Long Beach State has had a good record against Cal Poly of late. Winning the last four matchups, Long Beach State has also won three straight in San Luis Obispo, with the last loss for the Beach coming in double overtime back in 2016. Deishuan Booker led the way in last season's win, going 18-for-19 from the free throw line to lead LBSU to a 76-68 victory.

• Freshman Joshua Morgan passed Jordan Roberts as the team's active leader in career blocks in just 12 games, and leads the team with 54 blocks this season. The dynamic paint protector is averaging 2.3 blocks per game, best in the Big West and 20th nationally, while approaching the single-season record at the Beach. The freshman previously set a new single-game record, making eight blocks against Cal State Fullerton.

• Long Beach State has had balanced scoring on the season, with nine different players reaching double-figures on the year with five reaching ten points on multiple occasions, led by leading scorers Chance Hunter, Michael Carter III, Colin Slater and Joshua Morgan.

• In 2020-21 news, it was announced last Friday that Long Beach State has been invited to participate in the 2020 Paradise Jam in the US Virgin Islands. Joining Bradley, Buffalo, Cleveland State, Colorado State, FIU, St. Bonaventure and Weber State, the Beach will be making their second appearance in the tournament after having gone in the 2010-11 campaign.

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 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, two redshirts also return to the program, as the Beach is currently playing just three returning letterwinners to go with 8 players suiting up for their first full year while four players sit out 2019-20 on redshirt seasons.

• Long Beach State has turned over nearly the entire roster in 2019-20.The Beach returns just 15.2 points per game from the 2018-19 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 15.0 points per game, and is second on the team in rebounding at 5.3 boards per game while scoring 20 or more points six times, including a new career high with 28 points against UC Davis.

• Michael Carter III has been a key player for the Beach. A Division I transfer from Washington, Carter III leads the team in assists at 2.7 per game and is second on the team in scoring at 12.0 points per game. Carter III set a career-high with 15 rebounds against CSULA, recording his first career double-double.

• 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. Scoring a career-high 20 points against Pacific, Slater also added 19 against San Diego and is third on the team in scoring at 11.2 points per game while also leading the team in minutes played.

• Freshman Joshua Morgan has been a bright spot among the young players this season. A regular starter as a true freshman, Morgan is averaging 8.0 points per game on 60.5% shooting and is leading the team in rebounds at 5.9 per game while making 54 blocks, best in the Big West. Morgan needs just six more blocks to set a new single-season record as a true freshman.

• Both freshman bigs have started regularly together as Romelle Mansel has also made 15 starts and is averaging 18.6 minutes per game. Averaging 4.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, the 6-9 Mansel has been a strong complement to Morgan inside, and has been active defensively with 22 steals. The freshman recently set a new career-high with 11 points at CSUN.

• 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 while primarily coming off of the bench, Cobb is averaging 4.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, but missed six of eight games due to injury before returning against CSUN.

• LBSU's lone senior, Jordan Griffin is a dangerous outside shooter who has reached a major career milestone. With 100 career 3-pointers, Griffin became the 16th player in school history to make 100 3-pointers. Griffin is averaging 3.7 points per game and shooting 40.0 percent from three.

• Max De Geest has been another freshman who has made an impact. A strong outside shooter from New Zealand, the freshman guard is averaging 3.6 points per game and has made 17 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 2.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game and had his best game so far with eight points in the UCI win.

• Jordan Roberts is one of four 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. Roberts is averaging 6.7 points per game in Big West action and set a season high with 18 points Feb. 1 against UCSB.