Long Beach State Rallies For Comeback Win At Montana State

Sunday, November 26

Bozeman, Mont.

1 p.m. PT

Long Beach State University

4-4,0-0Big West

Montana State

3-3,0-0Big Sky

Long Beach St.

Montana St.

Photo by: Reily Rogers

11/26/2023 3:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - Montana State

The Beach closed the game on a 16-0 run to secure their third true road win before returning to the Walter Pyramid.

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

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Trailing by 13 on the road at Montana State, hurt by hot shooting from the Bobcats, Long Beach State locked down on defense and held Montana State scoreless over the final four minutes on the way to a 75-69 victory.

                Long Beach State (4-4) closed out the game on a 16-0 run, securing the team's third true road win in the eight-game stretch away from home to start the season that included victories over Michigan and Depaul as well as Montana State (3-3).

                Trailing by 12 at 67-55, Long Beach State got two straight baskets from Marcus Tsohonis to cut the lead to eight, then Robert Ford III scored the final basket of the game for Montana State on a circus layup with 4:04 to play.

                That would be the last points period for Montana State, as Long Beach State turned up the pressure and simultaneously brought great effort on the defensive end down 69-59. A three-point play from Tsohonis, who finished with game-high tied the contest at 69-69. Aboubacar Traore gave the lead from the line at 70-69, and then Jadon Jones was fouled on a three-point attempt, and the junior cashed in all three free throws to put the Beach on top by four on the way to closing out the win.

                Montana State built their big lead behind the 3-point shot, ending the night 13-of-30 behind the arc. Tyler Patterson and Brian Goracke combined for 11 of those makes. Long Beach State trailed by only four at the half, but a three from Patterson pushed the edge to seven right away to start the second. Patterson hit two back-to-back to help push the lead into double-digits with just over ten minutes to play.

                In addition to Tsohonis' 26 points, Lassina Traore finished with another double-double, 15 points with 13 rebounds. Graduate transfer Messiah Thompson made his first start with LBSU and also finished in double-figures with 10 points and three assists.

                Long Beach State, after eight games away, will finally return to the Walter Pyramid to host their home opener on Saturday, December 2 against Sacramento State. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. with live coverage on ESPN+.