Beach Unable To Complete Series Sweep Of CSU Bakersfield In 89-76 Loss

Saturday, January 2

Long Beach, Calif.

4 p.m.

Long Beach State University

2-3,1-1Big West

CSU Bakersfield

5-4,1-1Big West

Team	1	2	F
CSU Bakersfield	46	43	89
Long Beach St.	35	41	76

Photo by: John Fajardo

Beach Unable To Complete Series Sweep Of CSU Bakersfield In 89-76 Loss

1/2/2021 7:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Long Beach State had four in double-figures in the loss.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Hot shooting in the first half gave CSU Bakersfield an edge that a shorthanded Beach squad couldn't pull back in the second half in a 89-76 loss Saturday in the Walter Pyramid. Isaiah Washington led the team in scoring with 18 points on the night with three assists.

                With Long Beach State (2-3, 1-1 Big West) still missing its top two rebounders in Chance Hunter and Romelle Mansel, CSU Bakersfield (5-4, 1-1 Big West) had another big edge on the glass and this time had a shooting edge to go with it, making 6-of-14 3-pointers in the first half to open up a that LBSU was never able to pull back.

                Long Beach State had some good performances that helped keep the team within reach throughout. Junior Trever Irish set a career-high with 14 points, as did redshirt freshman RJ Rhoden who scored 11 points while leading the squad with six rebounds off of the bench.

                Jadon Jones got the Beach on the board first with a quick three, and the teams were tied at 11-11 after an Irish runner, but an 8-2 run from CSU Bakersfield put the Roadrunners in a better position than they were ever in a day prior. Long Beach State battled to take the lead again, the latest at 24-23 on a Joe Hampton jumper with just under 10 minutes remaining, but CSUB pushed back with a 15-5 run and led at the break 46-35.

                In the second half, the CSUB lead would grow to its largest at 67-48 with just over nine minutes remaining, but the Beach had one more charge in them. Sparked by back-to-back paint buckets from Irish and Hampton, Long Beach State cut the lead to nine at 79-70 on a three from RJ Rhoden, but the gap proved too big on the evening in the loss.

                The Beach will be on the road next week, scheduled to play at Cal State Fullerton on January 8 and 9. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. at Titan Gym.