Beach Closes Regular Season With Black and Blue Rivalry

Friday, March 5

Long Beach, Calif.

4 p.m.

Long Beach State University

UC Irivne

Photo by: John Fajardo

3/4/2021 8:27:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes - UC Irvine

Long Beach State hosts UC Irvine for a pair of games Friday and Saturday on ESPN3.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The Black and Blue Rivalry takes center stage for the Big West this weekend, as the Beach and UC Irvine will close the regular season on ESPN3 at home in the Walter Pyramid. Both games are scheduled to top off at 4 p.m., as the Beach looks to make a push for some momentum heading into the Big West Tournament.

Game:   Long Beach State vs. UC Irvine
Date:   March 5, 2021
Time:   4 p.m.
Location:   Long Beach, Calif.
Arena:   Walter Pyramid (4,200)
TV:   ESPN3
TV Talent:   Rahshaun Haylock, Richie Schueler
Radio:   22 West Radio, HD FM 88.1-3
Radio Talent:   Jason Schwartz
Webcast:   ESPN.com/Watch
Live Stats:   beachlivestats.com

RIGHT AWAY
• It's been hard luck lately for Long Beach State, as the last four losses for the team have all come in single-possession games, including one in overtime, all on the road. The Beach had two good looks from its top scorers in both games at Hawai'i, but neither fell as the Rainbow Warriors took both games on the islands.

• Long Beach State split both of its first two conference series, and then lost a pair of two-point heartbreakers on the road at UC Davis, including an overtime loss before a home sweep of Cal Poly.

• 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 14 games this season for LBSU.

• The Beach has been one of the conference's most affected teams by the COVID-19 pandemic. Long Beach State has lost 10 scheduled games over the course of three seperate pauses this season.

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 15.0 points per game and also is averaging 4.3 assists per game to lead the squad. Starting in 12 games, Washington has also played a team and conference high 35.0 minutes per game. His 896 points and 318 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 fourth on the team in scoring at 10.8 points per game, and has started a team-high 13 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 12.1 points per game while leading the team at 5.6 rebounds per game. Hunter has scored in double-figures eight times this season, and recorded a double-double earlier in the year against Seattle with 14 points and 13 rebounds. He also scored 23 points with nine rebounds and four steals, a team season-high in the Hawai'i opener.

• 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 14.6 points per game in his second season at the Beach. Carter III started the first five games of the season, but missed 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, and has started every game since.

• 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 3.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, Mansel missed the start of conference play due to injury and returned to action against UC Davis, but is still playing limited minutes.

• Trever Irish has now scored in double-figures multiple times and is now averaging 5.6 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.

• 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 averaging 7.5 points per game and shooting 42.3 percent from three on the year. His numbers are even better in Big West play, scoring 9.2 points per game with eight blocks.

• 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 4.4 points and 2.9 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.