Long Beach State Returns Home To Face UC San Diego For First Time

Photo by: John Fajardo

Long Beach State Returns Home To Face UC San Diego For First Time

1/28/2021 9:52:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Both games Friday and Saturday are scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN3.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- After a split against CSU Bakersfield earlier this season, Long Beach State will now host the other new conference member in UC San Diego this weekend in the Walter Pyramid on Friday and Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m., and will be televised live on ESPN3.

Game:.......................... Long Beach State vs. UC San Diego
Date:.............................................. Friday, January 29, 2021
Time:............................................................................ 4 p.m.
Location:.................................................. Long Beach, Calif.
Arena:............................................... Walter Pyramid (4,200)
TV:.............................................................................. ESPN3
TV Talent:............................ Rahshaun Haylock, Dave Miller
Radio:.................................... 22 West Radio, HD FM 88.1-3
Radio Talent:.............................................. Jason Schwartz
Webcast:........................................................... WatchESPN
Live Stats:.............................................. beachlivestats.com

RIGHT AWAY
• UC San Diego is transitioning from Division II to Division I, and as such is ineligible for the postseason and as such has been held out of the Big West standings despite planning to play a full conference slate prior to COVID-19 adjustments. A common opponent in some other sports at LBSU, such as Men's Volleyball and Water Polo, this is the first meeting between the two teams.

• Long Beach State has split both of its first two conference series after again taking the first game on the road at Cal State Fullerton. The Beach dropped the Titans 82-80 in the first game on Friday behind 20 points from Isaiah Washington, but fell in overtime on Saturday 75-72.

• The three captains from the 2019-20 season all made their current season debuts last Saturday at California Baptist. Jordan Roberts played 27 minutes after recovering from an injury that cost him seven games, while Colin Slater and Drew Cobb have both rejoined the team cohort after opting out for the fall semester.

• Senior transfer Isaiah Washington has been a steadying presence for the Beach despite coming just this season after transferring in from Iona. Washington leads Long Beach State at 16.8 points per game and also is averaging 4.1 assists per game to lead the squad. Starting in all eight games, Washington has also played a team and conference high 35.8 minutes per game. His 850 points and 299 assists over his four DI seasons are the highest among all of Long Beach State's current roster.

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.

PLAYER NOTES
• Junior College transfer Joe Hampton has rapidly become a key figure for Long Beach State, finishing a long journey to come to the Beach. Initially signed by Penn State, Hampton caught the eye of the LBSU coaching staff but spent a season at Pasadena City College and East LA College before enrolling at Long Beach State. Hampton is fourth on the team in scoring at 10.3 points per game, and is leading the squad in both steals on the year while starting seven games.

• Junior Chance Hunter was one of six players chosen by the media for the Preseason All-Big West team. An Honorable Mention All-Big West selection a year ago, Hunter is averaging 11.5 points per game while leading the active team on the glass with 6.3 rebounds per game. Scoring in double-figures in the first two games of the season, Hunter put up a double-double with 14 points and 13 boards in the win over Seattle, and returned to action on January 8 against Cal State Fullerton.

• Michael Carter III set a career-high in scoring with 25 points in the Bakersfield opener, and is second on the team in scoring at 15.2 points per game in his second season at the Beach. Carter III started the first five games of the season, but missed the last two games due to an injury sustained against CSU Bakersfield. He returned to action in the last game against California Baptist, leading the team with 16 points.

• A third returning starter alongside Hunter and Carter III, Romelle Mansel put up career highs in rebounding to start the season, starting with nine at LMU before bringing in 10 rebounds against Seattle. Averaging 4.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, Mansel has missed the start of conference play due to injury.

• Trever Irish has now scored in double-figures multiple times and is now averaging 7.5 points per game and has season highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds, both coming in league play. Those breakthroughs signal a full recovery from significant injuries that slowed his return to form last season. Irish is Long Beach State's first seven-footer since Mike Vantrimpont in the 2011-12 season. Irish has started every game in Big West play for the Beach.

• LBSU's injury woes have given an opportunity to freshman Jadon Jones, who has started the last five games for the Beach. A local product who attended St. Anthony High School, Jones scored 16 points in the opener against CSU Bakersfield and led the team with 17 points in the Fullerton finale. The true freshman is averaging 6.5 points per game while shooting 46.4% from three.

• RJ Rhoden is the first of a trio of redshirt freshmen guards who have debuted for LBSU this season. Rhoden has twice scored in double-figures in league play, and is now averaging 4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for the Beach.

• Redshirt freshman Shaden Knight drew a critical foul and sank two free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining against CSU Bakersfield to send the game to overtime in LBSU's win over the Runners. Knight is among the team leaders in assists, and is shooting 50.0 percent from three this season.

• Another local product, redshirt freshman Justin Rene scored a career-high six points at San Francisco. The former Long Beach Poly player is averaging 1.4 points per game in his first season of action at Long Beach State.

• Sophomore Jeffrey Yan has been playing increased minutes for the Beach in his second season, including a career-high 22 minutes in the overtime win against CSU Bakersfield. The China native played in 12 games a year ago as a redshirt freshman, and has taken on an increased role this year.

• Senior Jordan Roberts is Long Beach State's active leader in most career categories. Playing in 97 games over his first three seasons, Roberts was second on the team in blocks a year ago and averaged 5.1 points per game. The senior has scored in double-figures 19 times, including a career-high 19 at UC Davis. Roberts debuted this season against California Baptist, playing 28 minutes.

• Two other forward transfers have yet to debut for the Beach. Teddy Ochieng was initially recruited by CSUN where he played in four games before a season-ending injury. Ochieng moved on to Panola CC where he averaged double-figures before returning to Division I, but is currently out with injury. The Beach also lost Alabama transfer Raymond Hawkins III, who suffered a season-ending knee injury prior to the start of the season. A highly-rated recruit, Hawkins III was the No. 3 recruit in Nevada following a season at Findlay Prep, where he averaged 14.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game before playing in six games with the Crimson Tide.

COVID-19 NEWS AND NOTES
• The Beach lost a pair of games against CSUN following a number of positive test on January 15. Subsequent testing revealed that those turned out to all be false positives, and clearance was granted for the program to return to action this week. The original California Baptist game was canceled during Long Beach State's initial pause, though the return to action for LBSU and a pause for Chicago State allowed the game to be rescheduled.

• Long Beach State's originally scheduled opener at UCLA was postponed out of an abundance of caution regarding COVID-19 protocol between the teams. While the game was rescheduled, a positive test within the Tier 1 individuals at the Beach forced a two-week pause for Long Beach State and a second and final cancellation of the contest.