Beach Falls In Another Heartbreaker At UC Davis, 78-76 In Overtime

Saturday, February 13

Davis, Calif.

1 p.m.

Long Beach State University

UC Davis

Photo by: John Fajardo

Beach Falls In Another Heartbreaker At UC Davis, 78-76 In Overtime

2/13/2021 4:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Beach lost both games of the series by two points.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

DAVIS, Calif. – Freshman Jadon Jones set career highs with 20 points and seven rebounds in over 42 minutes played on Saturday, nearly willing the Beach to an overtime win on Saturday at UC Davis to avenge Friday's last second defeat, but the Aggies once again had the late answer in a 78-76 overtime defeat.

                Jones led four players in double-figures for Long Beach State (3-7, 2-4 Big West), a number that has been a signal for success for the Beach this season, but UC Davis (6-6, 3-3 Big West) had an unlikely hero of their own in sophomore Elijah Pepper, who scored 32 points, including six 3-pointers and a crucial make in the closing seconds of overtime.

                Leading by two with 39 seconds remaining, the Aggies were able to find Pepper for that sixth 3-pointer to take a five-point lead. Long Beach State answered with a three from Romelle Mansel, but just ran out of time at that point.

                The scenario was similar to the end of regulation. Tied at 67-67, UC Davis elected to hold for the final shot but a missed jumper from Ezra Manjon led to a long rebound and the Beach found a streaking Jones on the wing, but his three was off-target as the teams went into the overtime period.

                The game was close throughout, however, with eight ties and seven lead changes on the afternoon. Joe Hampton, coming off of a career-high 19 points on Friday, flirted with a double-double on Saturday with 12 points and nine rebounds and went to work early, helping stake the Beach to an 11-point first half lead. The Aggies would chip away however, pulling to within three at 38-35 at the half on the back of a Pepper three-pointer.

                In the second half, a 12-0 run for UC Davis gave the Aggies their largest lead at 51-45, but Jones had a putback to snap the run, and Hampton buried a three to immediately shrink the edge as the teams would battle down the stretch.

                Colin Slater finished with 16 points on the night, nad Chance Hunter also ended up in double-figures with 12 points.

                Long Beach State will next prepare for the first home games for the Men's team since the first two days of 2021, as the Beach hosts Cal Poly on February 19 and 20. Tipoff for both games is scheduled for 4 p.m.