Second-Half Rally Comes Up Just Short In Black And Blue Rivalry

Saturday, February 26

Irvine, Calif.

9 p.m.

Long Beach State University

16-11,10-3Big West

UC Irvine

14-8,8-4Big West

Long Beach St.

UC Irvine

Photo by: Steve Solis

Second-Half Rally Comes Up Just Short In Black And Blue Rivalry

2/26/2022 11:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - UC Irvine

Long Beach State cut a 25-point lead to one point, but came up just short in Irvine.

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

IRVINE, Calif. – Long Beach State trailed UC Irvine by as many as 25 points, but rallied back to cut the lead to one point at 73-72 with just over 40 seconds remaining, but a critical traveling call in the final minute eroded the comeback for the Beach in a 77-72 defeat in Irvine.

                UC Irvine (14-8, 7-5 Big West) opened up the game on a 12-4 run, as Long Beach State (16-11, 10-3 Big West) found the other side of the shooting coin. After shooting over 60 percent against the Tritons, Long Beach State was held under 30 percent shooting in the first half as the Anteater lead continued to build.

                A 14-0 run helped UCI increase their advantage to 21 points with just over four minutes to play, and the Anteaters went into the half on top 46-23.

                Upping the pressure in the second half, Long Beach State was able to chip into the lead with some transition baskets to cut the lead to 57-40 with just under 12 minutes to play.

                Down 65-49 with just over nine minutes, Long Beach State's pressure finally cracked UC Irvine. The Beach went on a 23-6 run, capped by a second-chance slam dunk from Aboubacar Traore to cut the lead to one at 73-32 with 47 seconds remaining, forcing a Russell Turner timeout.

                Collin Welp hit a key shot on his senior night to push the lead back to three points, and a traveling call on a ball screen in the final 30 seconds gave UC Irvine the ball back, helping seal the LBSU opportunity in the final minute.

                Joel Murray finished with 20 points to lead Long Beach State, while Jadon Jones was one rebound away from a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Colin Slater and Traore also both finished in double-figures with 16 and 14 points respectively, as Long Beach State forced 22 UC Irvine turnovers leading to 14 fast-break points and 28 points off of turnovers.

                Long Beach State is still in position to claim the regular season Big West title with two games left to play. The Beach will close the regular season with two more games in the Walter Pyramid, playing UC Davis Thursday night before hosting UC Riverside for senior night on Saturday. Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN+.