Long Beach State Rebounds With 80-76 Win Over Iona

Tuesday, November 21

Fort Myers, Fla.

8 a.m. PT

Long Beach State University

3-3,0-0Big West

Iona

1-3,0-0MAAC

Long Beach St.

Iona

11/21/2023 10:56:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - Iona

Jadon Jones led five in double-figures with 19 points.

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

ESTERO, Fla. – Big shots down the stretch from Jadon Jones and Isa Silva helped Long Beach State win a back-and-forth contest with Iona in the second of three games in the Gulf Coast Showcase, an 80-76 win over the Gaels.

                In a contest that featured just one lead over 10 points, 10 ties and 8 lead changes, a four-point play from Jadon Jones erased a three-point Iona (1-3) lead and put Long Beach State (3-3) in front with two minutes to play. Then, with under a minute remaining, a 3-pointer from Isa Silva broke a 74-74 tie and free throws from Messiah Thompson helped seal the contest.

                Jones led a season-high five Beach players in double-figures, scoring 19 points with four 3-pointers. Aboubacar Traore had his first double-double of the season while filling the stat sheet with 11 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks. Thompson finished with 14 points while Lassina Traore had 12 and Marcus Tsohonis finished with 10 for LBSU.

                The Beach pulled out to an early lead behind hot shooting from Jones, and led by 11 at 21-10 after the first nine minutes of the contest. A 3-pointer from Jean Aranguren, who had a career-high 16 helped the Gaels recover. Iona would pull all the way back over the next 11 minutes, and led 41-40 at halftime.

                Iona got off to a hot start offensively in the second half and led by as many as eight at 58-50, but the Beach would find their way back with stout defense. Holding Iona without a basket for three minutes in game time, the Beach sparked a 9-0 run to take a 59-58 lead on a Thompson triple, and held even with the Gaels before the two long-range shots in the closing minutes from the guards closed out the victory.

                Long Beach State will play their final game at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow against the winner of the upcoming Louisiana/Buffalo contest. Live coverage will be provided by FloHoops.