Men's Basketball Starts Big West Play Thursday At Cal State Fullerton

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Big West action kicks off Thursday with a rivalry matchup straight out of the gate, as Long Beach State travels to play Cal State Fullerton in Titan Gym. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Fullerton on ESPN+.

Game:..................... Long Beach State at Cal State Fullerton
Date:..................................... Thursday, December 28, 2023
Time:............................................................................ 7 p.m.
Location:....................................................... Fullerton, Calif.
Arena:...................................................... Titan Gym (4,000)
TV:.............................................................................. ESPN+
TV Talent:................................................... Jonathan Rifkind
Webcast:.................................................................... ESPN+
Radio:............................................................. 22 West Radio
Live Stats:................................................ fullertontitans.com

RIGHT AWAY
• Cal State Fullerton is one of three programs that Long Beach State has played over 100 times, with the Beach coming away with 72 wins over that time. The Titans enter Thursday with a 6-4 record with wins over Sacramento State, Pepperdine and Pacific.

• The Beach closed the non-conference schedule with a record of 8-4. That was the best winning percentage for the Beach since a 7-4 record in the 2006-07 NCAA tournament season, and the most wins since an 8-3 non-conference in 1999-2000.

• Winners of five straight, Long Beach State stole the national spotlight with a 84-79 OT win on the road at USC. Senior Marcus Tsohonis led the team with 28 points while Jadon Jones added 18 in the win over the Trojans, the first since 2013 for LBSU and the first since 1987 in Los Angeles.

• Tsohonis has brought his best against the best, scoring 35 points in a win at Michigan and now 28 in last Sunday's win at USC. The senior passed 1,000 career points scored across stretches at Washington, VCU and Long Beach State and has twice scored 30 or more in two seasons at LBSU. The team's leading scorer at 17.7 points per game, Tsohonis set a program record with 46 points in a triple overtime win at UCSD last season.

• The Beach is one of just a handful of programs to have four or more true road wins on the season, tied for second nationally after wins on the road at Michigan, USC, DePaul and Montana State this season. The three power conference wins is the most in the non-conference under Dan Monson; the Beach has previously won two power conference games in 2011, 2014, and 2017. In the Monson era, Long Beach State has 15 wins against power conference opponents.

• Long Beach State has won three straight at home after eight straight away from the Walter Pyramid, grabbing wins over Sacramento State, Life Pacific and Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Beach have won six of their last seven games and have scored 80 or more six times as well.

NEWS & NOTES
• The Beach went 4-4 in the team's eight-game road swing to start the year, picking up wins over DePaul, Iona, Montana State and a signature 94-86 win on the road at Michigan. Marcus Tsohonis had a game-high 35 points while Lassina Traore finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds to key the win over the Wolverines. The win was the sixth victory over Big Ten competition in program history, and the first coming in a true road game as Long Beach State rallied to defeat Michigan.

• The Beach returns all five starters from a season ago and returns nine letterwinners. That returning core leaves Long Beach State as one of the favorites in the conference starting the year, picked second in the Preseason Big West Coaches Poll. The Beach is also receiving votes in the Mid-Major Top 25 to open the season.

• In total, Long Beach State returns over 75 percent of their scoring and rebounding and over 90 percent of their blocked shots from a season ago, one of just a handful of about 15 programs to return over 75% of a teams scoring in the NCAA. The Beach has relied on that group this season, ranking 11th nationally in minutes continuity this season.

• Long Beach State legend Larry Anderson has joined the coaching staff as the team's third assistant. One of the "Fab Four" for the Beach that started for four straight years leading to the 2011-12 NCAA Tournament appearance, Anderson is the program's steals record holder and ranks in the Top 10 in career scoring, rebounding and assists at LBSU as one of the best all-around players to ever put on the uniform at Long Beach State.

• Long Beach State plays a fast, exciting brand of basketball showcased by the team's tempo, which is one of the quickest in the nation, currently 27th in the country as ranked by Ken Pomeroy.

PLAYER NOTES
• Coming out of the Ivory Coast, Long Beach State's dynamic inside duo of Aboubacar Traore and Lassina Traore ranked 1 and 2 in the rebounding for the Big West in 22-23. Reunited over 7,000 miles apart from where they met as youth national teammates and friends in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the duo have served as the starting frontcourt in the majority of games they have played together at LBSU. Both were named to the Big West Preseason All-Conference team entering the year. The duo currently rank first and fourth in the Big West in rebounding in 2022-23.

• Lassina Traore was selected as First Team All-Big West and was chosen the Big West Newcomer of the Year after a dominant first season at the Beach. Traore also earned NABC All-District honors, finishing the season with 17 double-doubles which ranked 9th in the nation. Traore is one of just 10 returning players in the NCAA to average a double-double a season ago, and is averaging 11.8 points and 9.6 rebounds this season with 6 double-doubles on the year.

• As a junior, Aboubacar Traore continues to fill the stat sheet in his third season at Long Beach State. Traore, who set the modern-era record at LBSU with 23 rebounds in a game in 2021-22, and is averaging a new high of 10.3 points per game as a junior while bringing in 6.6 rebounds per game and leading the team in assists and blocks.

• Aboubacar Troare became the 19th player in program history to record 500 career rebounds just under two seasons, and currently ranks 8th at the Beach with 628 career rebounds, passing Larry Anderson in the Top 10. He also ranks 6th in career blocked shots, and is rounding into a nightly triple-double threat. Traore has the chance to join a legendary trio of players at the Beach who have scored 1,000 points, grabbed 500 rebounds and made 300 assists in their career.

• The 2021-22 Big West Defensive Player of the Year, Jadon Jones has 26 steals and 8 blocks as a strong defensive presence while continuing to be a major threat from three. Averaging 12.8 points per game, Jones currently ranks 6th in program history with 166 made 3-pointers in his career.

• The duo of Aboubacar Traore and Jadon Jones are looking to join a club of one; LBSU career blocks leader Antrone Lee as the other two players to record 100 steals and 75 blocks during their time at the Beach highlighting the defensive standouts. The pair rank 1 and 2 in blocks per game in the Big West this season.

• The Beach has four players who are on pace to reach the 1,000 career point milestone, a club with just 24 members at Long Beach State. Junior Jadon Jones is the closest at 878 career points, though the Traores and sophomore AJ George are all also on track to reach the milestone before the end of their careers at Long Beach State. Additionally, Marcus Tsohonis has passed 1,000 Division I points already this season and Messiah Thompson is close, just 14 points away.

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Men's Basketball Starts Big West Play Thursday At Cal State Fullerton

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Players Mentioned

AJ George

Jadon Jones

Messiah Thompson

Aboubacar Traore

Lassina Traore

Marcus Tsohonis

Long Beach State University Athletics