Men’s Basketball Runs Win Streak To Eight To Stay Atop The Big West

Saturday, February 5

Long Beach, Calif.

4 p.m.

Long Beach State University

12-9,7-1Big West

Cal Poly

5-15,1-7Big West

Cal Poly

Long Beach St.

Photo by: John Fajardo

Men’s Basketball Runs Win Streak To Eight To Stay Atop The Big West

2/5/2022 7:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - Cal Poly Photo Gallery

Long Beach State held off a challenge from Cal Poly in a 78-65 victory in the Walter Pyramid.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Joel Murray and Colin Slater both scored 20 or more for the third time this season, combining to shoot a perfect 16-for-16 from the free throw line as Long Beach State outlasted Cal Poly in a physical battle to win their eight straight game, 78-65.

Long Beach State (12-9, 7-1 Big West) was held to just 29.2 percent shooting from the floor, but forced Cal Poly (5-15, 1-7 Big West) in 23 turnovers and went 33-for-36 from the free throw line to offset the cold night offensively in the Walter Pyramid.

Cal Poly took an early lead at 8-3, and ultimately led through the whole of the half, taking a 31-30 lead into the break as the Beach shot just 27.3 percent in the first half. The Mustangs had led by as many as nine points in the first, but the Beach closed the half on a 12-4 run.

The pressure defense from LBSU really took its toll in the second half, as the Beach forced the Mustangs into 14 turnovers in the back as to help offset Long Beach State missing its first ten shots. A three from Jadon Jones fell to cut the lead to two points, and the Beach took their first lead at 49-47 after four made free throws from Romelle Mansel and Slater respectively.

Catching some momentum, Long Beach State went up for good after a tie at 53-53 on a 13-3 run capped by an alley oop from Jordan Roberts to Aboubacar Traore.

Roberts with the alley, Traore with the oop! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/34JCXkIBhb
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) February 6, 2022

Cal Poly made one more push, cutting the lead to three points, but Slater canned a pair of 3-pointers in consecutive possessions for the Beach. LBSU then closed out the game from the line to grab their eight straight win, matching the most for the program since the 2011-12 NCAA Tournament team.

With the Titans and Beach tied atop the standings at the start of the day, Tuesday's rivalry matchup between Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton takes on new meeting as the teams will be battling for the top spot in the Big West. Tipoff in the Walter Pyramid is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.