Long Beach State Remains Home To Host Life Pacific

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The homestand continues for Long Beach State, who after an 83-73 win over Sacramento State behind 24 points from junior Jadon Jones will host Life Pacific on Wednesday, December 6. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. with live coverage on ESPN+.

Game:................................ Long Beach State vs. Life Pacific
Date:.................................... Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Time:............................................................................ 7 p.m.
Location:.................................................. Long Beach, Calif.
Arena:............................................... Walter Pyramid (4,200)
TV:.............................................................................. ESPN+
TV Talent:................................ Jason Schwartz, Dave Miller
Webcast:.................................................................... ESPN+
Radio:............................................................. 22 West Radio
Live Stats:.............................................. beachlivestats.com

RIGHT AWAY
• Long Beach State will play Life Pacific for the second year in a row. Last season, the Beach won 97-52 over the Warriors, who compete in the GSAC conference of the NAIA, and have a 6-1 record against competition outside of the NCAA's top two Divisions. The game counts against the record for Long Beach State, but does not count towards the Life Pacific record.

• 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.

• As part of his 35-point game at Michigan, the second 30+ scoring effort from Marcus Tsohonis at Long Beach State, the senior passed 1,000 career points scored across stretches at Washington, VCU and Long Beach State. The team's leading scorer at 18.0 points per game, Tsohonis set a program record with 46 points in a triple overtime win at UCSD last season, and second in scoring this season across the Big West.

• 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 13th nationally in minutes continuity this season.

NEWS & NOTES
• 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.

• Under Dan Monson, Long Beach State now has 13 wins against Power 6 conference opponents. With the 77-73 win at DePaul, Long Beach State has won two straight games against Big East competition after a 66-65 win over Providence as part of the 2021 Wooden Legacy. The Beach has also won two straight this season against power conference foes after a nationally notable 94-86 win over Michigan.

• 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 in the Top 25 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.

• 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 11.6 points and 9.8 rebounds this season with 5 double-doubles on the year.

• The 17 double-doubles for Lassina Traore in 2022-23 matched the program's single-season high, set twice by T.J. Robinson. Additionally, his 347 total rebounds on the year ranked second in school history, nine fewer than the record set by Dave Jones in the 1960-61 season.

• 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 11.3 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 608 career rebounds, passing Larry Anderson in the Top 10. He also ranks 7th 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 21 steals and 7 blocks as a strong defensive presence while continuing to be a major threat from three. Averaging 11.7 points per game, Jones currently ranks 7th in program history with 159 made 3-pointers in his career.

• 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 830 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 22 points away.

• After an impressive debut season last year as a redshirt freshman, AJ George continues to play a major role for the Beach as a sophomore. Coming off of the bench this season after starting 25 games a year ago, George is averaging 7.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game as a consistent presence in the rotation.

• The starting spot vacated by George has been taken over by point guard Isa Silva, a position the Beach was light on due to injury a season ago. Silva was a consensus national Top 100 recruit coming out of Jesuit High School in Sacramento two seasons a year ago, and comes to the Beach after two years in the rotation with Stanford, playing 64 games with the Cardinal.

• Graduate transfer Messiah Thompson has also given the Beach a lift at the point guard position. Thompson is averaging 8.4 points and 2.6 assists per game off of the bench, providing more quickness and experience from the bench as a great shooter and ball-handler. Thompson will reach 1,000 career points scored over stops at Campbell, Alabama A&M and the Beach with 22 more points this season.

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Players Mentioned

AJ George

Jadon Jones

Isa Silva

Messiah Thompson

Aboubacar Traore

Lassina Traore

Marcus Tsohonis

Long Beach State University Athletics