Long Beach State Opens Baha Mar Hoops With 78-70 Win Over Oakland

Friday, November 25

Nassau, Bahamas

5 p.m. PT

Long Beach State University

3-2,0-0Big West

Oakland

2-4,0-0Horizon

Long Beach St.

Oakland

Photo by: 10thYearSeniors

Long Beach State Opens Baha Mar Hoops With 78-70 Win Over Oakland

11/25/2022 8:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Lassina Traore finished with a double-double as five players finished in double figures in a solid win to open the three-game tournament in the Bahamas.

By: Roger Kirk, Associate Athletics Director, Communications & Broadcast

NASSAU, Bahamas – In the first game of the Baha Mar Hoops tournament for the Beach, Long Beach State saw all five starters hit double-figures and the team finished with 25 assists in a 78-70 win over Oakland to move into the winner's bracket.

                Long Beach State (3-2) jumped out to an early cushion, racing off to a 10-4 lead in the opening minutes. Oakland (2-4) shot 37 3-pointers on the night, hitting 32.4%, but ran off a stretch of makes capped by a triple from Blake Lampman. That triple cut the lead to one, and a second chance basket gave the Grizzlies their first lead at 17-16.

                The Beach settled in as Tobias Rotegaard answered with a three, kickstarting a 10-1 run that got LBSU back in control. Later in the second half, tied at 48-48, The Beach went inside for three straight buckets in the paint to once and for all regain the momentum, part of an 11-0 run.

                A Jadon Jones three put Long Beach State on top 72-58 with just under five minutes to play, and the Beach held on the rest of the way for a 78-70 victory over Oakland.

                Marcus Tsohonis missed the game due to an injury and redshirt freshman AJ George made his first start of the season in his absence. George finished with 12 points and six rebounds, highlighting big nights from all of the starters. Lassina Traore finished with a career-high 15 points with 12 rebounds, while Joel Murray led all scorers with 17 points to go with six assists and five rebounds. Aboubacar Traore also flirted with a triple double with 14 points, six assists and seven rebounds, while Jones finished with 14 points with three 3-pointers made. Off the bench, sophomore Tone Hunter and a strong night, finishing with seven assists and six steals while playing a season high 24 minutes.

                Long Beach State will face off with North Texas in the second of three games at the tournament on Saturday, November 26 at 5 p.m. PT. Live coverage will be provided by FloHoops.