Beach Basketball Anticipating Home Return This Weekend Against Cal Poly

Friday, February 19

Long Beach, Calif.

4 p.m.

Long Beach State University

Cal Poly

Photo by: John Fajardo

Beach Basketball Anticipating Home Return This Weekend Against Cal Poly

2/18/2021 9:53:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes - Cal Poly

Men's Basketball set to play first home game since January 2.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- It's finally time for what the Beach hopes will be the long-awaited return to the Walter Pyramid, as Long Beach State had its prior two Big West series canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. The Beach is set to host Cal Poly on February 19 and 20, the first home game for LBSU since January 2. Both games are scheduled to tip at 4 p.m. with coverage provided by Beach Vision.

Game:.................................... Long Beach State vs. Cal Poly
Date:......................................................... February 19, 2021
Time:............................................................................ 4 p.m.
Location:.................................................. Long Beach, Calif.
Arena:............................................... Walter Pyramid (4,200)
TV:................................................................................... N/A
TV Talent:........................................................................ N/A
Radio:.................................... 22 West Radio, HD FM 88.1-3
Radio Talent:.............................................. Jason Schwartz
Webcast:........................................................... Beach Vision
Live Stats:.............................................. beachlivestats.com

RIGHT AWAY
• It's finally what the Beach hopes will be the long-awaited return to the Walter Pyramid, as Long Beach State had its prior two Big West series canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. The Beach is set to host Cal Poly on February 19 and 20, the first home game for LBSU since January 2. Both games are scheduled to tip at 4 p.m. with coverage provided by Beach Vision.

• Long Beach State previously lost its home series against CSUN and UC San Diego due to team activity pauses, and have just returned to action from its most recent pause on the road at UC Davis, dropping two heartbreakers on successive nights by two points, the second in overtime.

• Long Beach State 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.

• Throughout 2020-21, Long Beach State has had wildly shifting availability among players. Early in the season, the Beach was down to nine active players, and while now 14 players have featured for the Beach this season, just three, Joe Hampton, Trever Irish and Jadon Jones have played in all ten games this season for LBSU.

PLAYER NOTES
• 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 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.

• 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 third on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game, and is leading the squad in steals on the year while starting nine 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 11.3 points per game while adding 4.9 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 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 4.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, Mansel has missed the start of conference play due to injury, but returned to action against UC Davis.

• Trever Irish has now scored in double-figures multiple times and is now averaging 6.4 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 seven games for the Beach. A local product who attended St. Anthony High School, Jones has impressed in his first season. Scoring a career-high 20 points at UC Davis Feb. 13, Jones is now averaging 7.8 points per game and has made a team-high 17 3-pointers, shooting 44.7% from beyond the arc.

• The three captains from the 2019-20 season all made their current season debuts 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.

• 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 was among the team leaders in assists, and is shooting 50.0 percent from three this season but is currently inactive.

• 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.