Men's Basketball Closes 2019-20 Regular Season At Cal State Fullerton

Saturday, March 7

Fullerton, Calif.

7:30 p.m.

Long Beach State University

Cal State Fullerton

Photo by: John Fajardo

Men's Basketball Closes 2019-20 Regular Season At Cal State Fullerton

3/7/2020 10:11:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes - Cal State Fullerton

Tipoff is at 7:30 to determine Long Beach State's Big West Tournament seed.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Thursday's win secured Long Beach State's place in the Big West Tournament, and now it's all about seeding in a rivalry matchup at Cal State Fullerton that could see the Beach place as high as sixth in next week's quarterfinals on Thursday.

Game:..................... Long Beach State at Cal State Fullerton
Date:............................................... Saturday, March 7, 2020
Time:....................................................................... 7:30 p.m.
Location:....................................................... Fullerton, Calif.
Arena:...................................................... Titan Gym (4,000)
TV:................................................................................... N/A
TV Talent:........................................................................ N/A
Radio:.................................... 22 West Radio, HD FM 88.1-3
Radio Talent:.............................................. Jason Schwartz
Webcast:................................................ BigWest.org/Watch
Live Stats:................................................ fullertontitans.com

RIGHT AWAY
• The Titans won a close matchup in the Walter Pyramid earlier this year, 66-62 and Long Beach State will be looking to bounce back from a recent slide against Cal State Fullerton.

• Jordan Griffin had a memorable senior night to lead Long Beach State to an overtime win over Cal Poly. Griffin scored a team-high 18 points and also set season highs with five rebounds and two steals to play a key role in the victory over the Mustangs. Griffin now has made 105 3-pointers in his career, 15th all-time and ranks 8th in games played at Long Beach State.

• Freshman Joshua Morgan continues to dominate the Long Beach State blocks record books. Setting the single-game record with 8 blocks against Cal State Fullerton, Morgan is continuing to pad his single-season record with 78 blocks, and now is 7th in career blocks at the Beach in just one season. The dynamic paint protector is averaging 2.5 blocks per game, best in the Big West and 21st nationally.

• Morgan currently ranks second nationally in total blocks among freshman, behind only Manny Bates of NC State and is 14th overall in the NCAA.

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

• 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 14.1 points per game, and is second on the team in rebounding at 5.0 boards per game while scoring 20 or more points seven 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 2.6 per game and is second on the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game. Carter III set a career-high with 15 rebounds against CSULA, recording his first career double-double.

• Junior Colin Slater has started all but two games for the Beach 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 10.4 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 8.6 points per game on 62.3% shooting and is leading the team in rebounds at 6.0 per game while making 78 blocks, best in the Big West.

• Both freshman bigs have started regularly together as Romelle Mansel has also made 22 starts and is averaging 19.4 minutes per game. Averaging 4.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, the 6-9 Mansel has been a strong complement to Morgan inside, and has been active defensively with 24 steals. The freshman 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 Cobb started the season on the bench, but has now been starting the majority of Big West play and is averaging 5.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

• Max De Geest has been another freshman who has made an impact. A strong outside shooter from New Zealand, the freshman guard is averaging 3.4 points per game and has made 23 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 2.3 points and 1.8 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 6.3 points per game in Big West action and set a season high with 18 points Feb. 1 against UCSB.

• Long Beach State's 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.