Beach Falls At USC To Close Road Trip

Wednesday, December 14

Los Angeles, CA

8 p.m.

Long Beach State University

4-6,0-0Big West

USC

8-3,2-0Pac-12

Long Beach St.

Southern California

12/14/2022 10:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Long Beach State pulled within one in the final minutes of the second half, but the Trojans held on for an 88-78 victory.

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

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – In the last game of six away from home, Long Beach State pulled to within one on the road at USC at 66-65, but the Trojans answered with an 8-0 run to hold off the Beach in the Galen Center, 88-78.

                Long Beach State (4-6) dominated the glass on the night, outrebounding the Trojans 50-32 behind a huge double-double effort from Aboubacar Traore, who finished with 16 points and 1t6 rebounds to go with four assists.

                Marcus Tsohonis led the team in scoring with 17 points and Joel Murray and AJ George each ended in double-figures as well, but the Beach left too much to too late on the night.

                USC (8-3) raced off to a hot start, scoring the first seven points unanswered and took a 20-8 lead before the Beach really became settled. A Tobias Rotegaard 3-pointer helped end the run of the Trojans, and the Beach were able to hold within reach, trailing 43-32 at halftime.

                Starting the second half, it was Long Beach State that carried the momentum. The Beach opened the half on an 8-3 run, forcing a USC timeout, and continued to push. A pull-up 3-pointer from Tsohonis cut the lead to three points at 58-55, and the Beach looked to take the lead as a potential and-one from Tone Hunter dribbled out of the up down two at 66-64.

                Hunter made one of his ensuing free throws to cut the lead to one at 66-65, but the Trojans found their leading scorer, Reese Dixon-Waters for two quick baskets, including a three to move out to a lead that they would not relinquish in the closing minutes.

                Long Beach State will return home for a pair of games before the holiday break, hosting Life Pacific at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 19 as well as Idaho at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21. Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN+.