Fresno State Edges Long Beach State After Shocking Ending

Saturday, November 23

Long Beach, Calif.

2 p.m.

Long Beach State University

1-5,0-0Big West

Fresno State

3-2,0-0Mountain West

Fresno St.

Long Beach St.

11/23/2024 5:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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A late comeback by the Bulldogs undid an otherwise encouraging night for Long Beach State.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State dominated large stretches of the contest, but a 14-0 run to finish the day by the Bulldogs stunned the Beach as Fresno State stole a 72-69 victory in the Walter Pyramid Saturday.

                Long Beach State (1-5) fought through a 44 to 4 free throw disparity in favor of Fresno State (3-2) and led by as many as 17 points in the first half. For the game, Long Beach State shot 41.4% from behind the arc, making a season-high 12 threes.

                In the best start of the season, Long Beach State opened up a 14-3 lead in the first five minutes, and freshman Andrew Nagy's second 3-pointer of the game would push that lead to its largest point at 31-14. The Bulldogs were able to pull the lead back to single digits before the half from the line, though a Varick Lewis three helped the Beach lead 39-28 at the half.

                Fresno State made a push in the later stages of the second half, cutting the lead to 56-54 on an Amar Augillard three with just over seven minutes to play, but the Beach responded with a 9-0 run to take an 11-point lead with 3:19 to lead.

                With the Bulldogs turning to a full-court press, Long Beach State grabbed one transition basked on a breakaway dunk from Austin Johnson with just under three minutes to play. That would be the final points for the Beach, however, as a combination of the Bulldogs being well outside of the bonus on team fouls, LBSU turnovers and consistent scoring for Fresno State allowed for a comeback. The Bulldogs scored the final 14 points, taking their first lead with 42 seconds remaining on a three from Davis Douglas Jr. and holding on for the win.

                Devin Askew led Long Beach State with 19 points, while TJ Wainwright added 13. The Beach were led on the glass by Austin Johnson with 11, and the Beach were only out-rebounded by two but had 19 turnovers which led to 20 points for Fresno State, which along with the 30 made free throws to 3 for Long Beach State sealed the result.

                The Beach will continue their busiest stretch of the non-conference with three more games in Henderson, Nevada as Long Beach State will take part in the Ball Dawgs Classic alongside UNC Greensboro, UTEP and San Jose State. The Beach will play all three teams in that order in three days beginning on Monday, November 25. All three games will be streamed by FloCollege.