Men's Basketball Remains On Road Tuesday At San Diego State

Tuesday, November 30

San Diego, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

San Diego State

11/29/2021 3:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Long Beach State will face the Aztecs for the first time since 2015.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State will close out four games away from home on Tuesday, traveling south to resume an old rivalry against San Diego State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday night, with live coverage via Stadium as well as the Mountain West Network.

Game:......................... Long Beach State at San Diego State
Date:....................................... Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Time:............................................................................ 7 p.m.
Location:.................................................... San Diego, Calif.
Arena:................................................. Viejas Arena (12,414)
TV:............................................................................ Stadium
TV Talent:....................................................... Jon Schaeffer
Webcast:......................................... Mountain West Network
Radio:.............................................. 101.5 KGB (San Diego)
Live Stats:.............................................. beachlivestats.com

RIGHT AWAY
• As former conference rivals, San Diego State is one of Long Beach State's 10 most-faced opponents through its history, but the teams will be meeting for the first time since 2015, when Long Beach State nearly toppled the Aztecs in a 76-72 loss. LBSU's last win against San Diego State came in 1998, when the Beach won on the road in San Diego 75-70.

• The Beach played in two overtime games in its first three contests, falling in the team's home opener against Utah Valley 84-78 after winning 95-89 on the road in Idaho to start the season.

• Participating in the Naples Invitational last week, Long Beach State bounced back from a slow start over the first two games to pick up an important win over Wright State, 85-76. Per Ken Pomeroy, the opening two games were two of the seven most difficult contests LBSU will face this season, but the Beach then rallied behind a double-double from Joe Hampton (22 points, 10 rebounds) and 21 points from Joel Murray to close out their time in Florida with a win.

• After the San Diego State game, Long Beach State will return to the Walter Pyramid for back-to-back home contests. First, the Beach will host Loyola Marymount on December 4 before hosting Bethesda on December 8. Both games are scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+, which will be the broadcast home of all home games for LBSU as well as the rest of the Big West Conference this season.

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
• Joel Murray has had a very strong start to his LBSU career. Currently leading the team in scoring at 18.5 points per game, Murray ranks second in the Big West in scoring and in the Top 100 in the nation. He also scored 30 points against No. 2 UCLA, joining an elite list of LBSU scorers who have scored 30 points in the last 15 years. A strong defender as well, Murray was a two-time All-American at West Texas A&M, where he guided the team to the Division II NCAA Championship Game last season as the team's point guard.

• Joe Hampton recorded his first career double-double against Wright State, and is now second on the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game while averaging 3.8 boards in his second season at the Beach. A starter throughout last season, Hampton continues to make an impact while serving as a high-profile player due to his association with Netflix's Last Chance U: Basketball showcasing his time at East LA College.

• Colin Slater has had a strong start to the season as well. Now in his sixth year of college basketball, Slater is averaging 11.7 points per game this season after putting up 27 on the road at UCLA, going 10-for-13 from the floor and shooting 5-of-6 from three. He is now the active D1 leader in points scored on the team combined with his time at Tulane, and is third on the team in scoring.

• Jordan Roberts has been a consistent presence in the Long Beach State lineup over the last five seasons. Since 2017-18, Roberts has played in 114 games for Long Beach State, and will be on track to break the games played record for the Beach. He is also Long Beach State's active career leader in every category other than 3-pointers made.

• A defensive stalwart, Drew Cobb has started every game this season for the Beach and is averaging 5.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game while traditionally guarding the opposing team's top perimeter player.

• Three players that chose to come back for an additional season, Drew Cobb, Colin Slater and Jordan Roberts are serving as the team's captains this season.

• Freshman Jadon Jones is a local product made good. Starting 13 games as a true freshman out of St. Anthony High School in Long Beach, Jones earned Big West All-Tournament honors in a breakthrough season, and is now averaging 5.7 points per game while leading the team with 10 3-pointers made on 41.7% shooting.

• Aboubacar Traore has made an immediate impact with the Beach. A true freshman, Traore is averaging 5.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while leading the team in blocks, showcasing his athleticism. He started his collegiate career by scoring 11 points at Idaho.

• Romelle Mansel continues to play a key role for Long Beach State. Now having started 28 games in his career, Mansel is averaging 4.0 rebounds per game and is in his third year at the Beach.

• The Beach brought in two Division I transfers in the offseason who are contributing. Eddie Scott from Penn and Tobias Rotegaard from UAB have both played in every game this season, with Rotegaard shooting 33.3% from three while Scott has averaged 11.2 minutes per game in a defensive role.

• Other available players for the Beach include RJ Rhoden, a versatile wing presence, true freshman point guard AJ Neal in his first season with the program and veteran big man Jeffrey Yan who is in his fourth year at the Beach.

• Trever Irish played in all 18 games last season, one of just three players on the squad to feature in every game. The 7-footer averaged 4.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game a year ago while increasing his minutes to 13.8 per game and making nine starts over the course of the season. The big man missed the Naples Invitational due to injury however.

• Raymond Hawkins III, a DI transfer from Alabama last season injured his knee prior to the campaign and is still rehabbing that injury, while true freshman AJ George has also yet to make his LBSU debut due to a shoulder injury.