Beach Men’s Basketball Grabs Iconic Win At Michigan

Friday, November 17

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4 p.m. PT

Long Beach State University

2-2,0-0Big West

Michigan

3-1,0-0Big Ten

Long Beach St.

Michigan

11/17/2023 7:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - Michigan Photo Gallery

Long Beach State comes away as the victors in their first trip to Ann Arbor behind big nights from Marcus Tsohonis and Lassina Traore.

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

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Long Beach State trailed by 16 points early but battled back on the road against an undefeated Michigan team and grabbed a signature win over the Big Ten giants, winning 94-86 at the Crisler Center.

                Marcus Tsohonis passed 1,000 points scored in his career across Washington, VCU and the Beach in a huge night for the senior. Tsohonis score a game-high 35 points on 12-of-19 shooting with 7 rebounds and three assists, leading from the front alongside Lassina Traore who finished with his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

                Dug McDaniel, who finished with 20 points for the Wolverines hit three quick 3-pointers to help pace Michigan (3-1) to a 23-7 lead in the first seven minutes. Long Beach State (2-2) recovered behind a three-point play from Tsohonis and a triple from AJ George, and the fight was on.

                Amari Stroud sparked a 5-0 run, part of a critical stretch from the bench who finished the first half with 17 points. Chayce Polynice saw his first action of the year in the post, and Messiah Thompson scored seven first-half points with three assists as the Beach pulled to within two before the break.

                Aboubacar Traore tied the game in transition, and Tsohonis gave Long Beach State its first lead of the game at 54-52 with just over 17 minutes remaining. Trailing 64-63, an 8-2 Long Beach State run capped by a bucket from Tsohonis gave Long Beach State a 71-65 lead.

                Michigan would make one more push behind the Wolverine's leading scorer, Olivier Nkamhoua who finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. A three-point play on a dunk for an 80-76 Michigan lead brought the crowd to life with just over four minutes remaining.

                Thompson answered with a three to pull the Beach within one, and a steal and transition lay-in from Jadon Jones put the Beach back in front. Ahead by two with 30 seconds remaining, the Beach missed the front end of a one-and-one but Aboubacar Traore was there to tip in the rebound and push the lead to four in the decisive play of the end game, as the Beach closed out the contest from the line.

                On the night, Long Beach State shot a blistering 56.1 percent and were 8-for-17 from three, with four in double figures as Aboubacar Traore finished with 15 points, four steals and four blocks while Thompson led the bench with 12 points and four assists in 18 minutes.

                The Beach has now won two straight games over power six opponents, and will look to carry that momentum into a trio of neutral contests as part of the Gulf Coast Showcase in Fort Myers, Fla. The Beach will play three games against mid-major competition from November 20-22 starting with Illinois State on the 20th.