Men's Basketball Returns To Walter Pyramid Hosting Loyola Marymount

Saturday, December 4

Long Beach, Calif.

4 p.m.

Long Beach State University

Loyola Marymount

Photo by: John Fajardo

Men's Basketball Returns To Walter Pyramid Hosting Loyola Marymount

12/2/2021 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

LMU - Game Notes

The game Saturday starts a two-game homestand for the Beach.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State is back at home for a two-game homestand starting on Saturday, December 4, when Long Beach State will host Loyola Marymount at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.

Game:................... Long Beach State vs. Loyola Marymount
Date:........................................ Saturday, December 4, 2021
Time:............................................................................ 4 p.m.
Location:.................................................. Long Beach, Calif.
Arena:............................................... Walter Pyramid (4,200)
TV:.............................................................................. ESPN+
TV Talent:........................................ Trent Rush, Dave Miller
Webcast:.................................................................... ESPN+
Radio:............................................................. 22 West Radio
Live Stats:.............................................. beachlivestats.com

RIGHT AWAY
• An interesting twist to this matchup is it occurs on the same day, December 4, as the meeting last season, but instead of being Long Beach State's season opener it is the eighth game of the campaign in 2021-22.

• Long Beach State holds a 19-9 edge in the all-time series between the teams, but LMU won the season opener for both teams last year to extend a two-game edge. The Lions have also won the last two games in the Walter Pyramid, a ways back in 2013 and 2010 respectively.

• 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.

• Long Beach State's homestand continues on December 8, when the Beach hosts Bethesda. The Beach set the program's record of victory, 72 points, in the January 2019 meeting, the only other time the two programs have faced each other.

PLAYER NOTES
• Joel Murray has had a very strong start to his LBSU career. Currently leading the team in scoring at 16.7 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 12.8 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 11.1 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 115 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, and is averaging 7.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game this season.

• A defensive stalwart, Drew Cobb has started every game this season for the Beach and is averaging 5.0 points and 2.9 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 35.7% shooting.

• Aboubacar Traore has made an immediate impact with the Beach. A true freshman, Traore is averaging 5.6 points and 4.6 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 3.6 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 making a pair of 3-pointers while Scott has averaged 11.1 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.

COVID-19 NEWS AND NOTES
• Mask mandates remain in place in the Walter Pyramid and are anticipated to last throughout the season. Additionally, State of California regulations mandate all spectators for events inside the Walter Pyramid must provide either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event. That policy will be in place until further notice.

• If you are coming to the Walter Pyramid this season, please allow for extra time to enter the venue due to COVID-19 protocols as well as parking. Parking payment can be done in two ways, either at the parking machines on site or via the Parkmobile App.

THIS AND THAT
• As part of Saturday's festivities, Long Beach State will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Men's Volleyball's first National Championship in 1991. The team expects to have the full roster returning for the halftime recognition of the program.

• Long Beach State continues to have an outstanding record in the Walter Pyramid. In the past 11+ years, the Beach has piled up a 110-34 record at home, winning nearly 80% of their games in the iconic building. Per Ken Pomeroy, Long Beach State also sports the largest home court advantage in the Big West.

• Head Coach Dan Monson is the winningest coach at Long Beach State, with more victories than basketball luminaries such as Jerry Tarkanian, Tex Winter, and Seth Greenberg who have also coached at the Beach. The Beach now has over 1,000 wins in program history, with Monson having won over 200 of those games. Monson is now 11 games away from winning 400 games at the Division I level.

• At the season opener in Idaho, Monson's father, Don Monson was honored for his time coaching the program by having his name lifted into the rafters along with his 1981-82 Sweet 16 team. Dan Monson, an Idaho alum as well, became the first coach to win a game in the new ICCU Arena with the 95-89 overtime win over the Vandals.

• Long Beach State's newest addition to the coaching staff is Alan Caveness, a coach with strong local ties as the former head coach of St. Anthony High School. He's reunited at the Beach with one of the stars of the Saints in Jadon Jones.

• Long Beach State also announced the signing of a new recruit for 2022-23. Jason Hart Jr., a point guard out of St. Bernard HS will be joining the Beach. Hart Jr. enters his senior season rated as the No. 41 point guard prospect in the nation. He previously played at Taft High School and Dorsey High School, impressing straight away as a freshman at Dorsey by averaging 11.6 points and 34 assists per game. Hart Jr. is the son of Jason Hart, a standout at Syracuse and a 9-year NBA former pro who is currently the head coach of the Ignite of the G League.