Winning Streak Snapped As Shorthanded Beach Fall At Hawai’i

Saturday, February 24

Honolulu, Hawaii

9 p.m. PT

Long Beach State University

18-10,10-6Big West

Hawai'i

16-12,8-8Big West

Long Beach St.

Hawaii

Winning Streak Snapped As Shorthanded Beach Fall At Hawai’i

2/24/2024 11:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - Hawai'i

AJ George finished with 18 points while Lassina Traore had a double-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds.

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

HONOLULU – Long Beach State saw their five-game winning streak come to an end as the Beach rallied in the closing minutes, but lost on the road at Hawai'I 73-65.

                Suiting up just 10 players due to various ailments to Marcus Tsohonis, Jason Hart Jr., and Chayce Polynice, Long Beach State (18-10, 10-6 Big West) got a lift from AJ George who scored 18 points in his return to the starting lineup. Lassina Traore put up his 11th double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds while Aboubacar Traore scored 15.

                Feeding Lassina Traore inside early, Long Beach State and Hawai'i (16-12, 8-8 Big West) played a tight game through most of the first half. Traore had 11 and 8 in the first 20 minutes alone, and kept the Beach close despite early foul trouble to Aboubacar and Jadon Jones. A scary moment in the closing minutes of the half took Lassina off of the floor for LBSU and Hawai'i capitalized, opening up a nine-point lead before going into halftime up 40-33.

                A 10-2 run to start the second half for the Rainbow Warriors would ultimately prove to be the difference, as Hawai'i took a 15-point lead. With 11 minutes to play, the lead remained 15 points, but the Beach battled back to make it a contest.

                Cutting the lead to eight points with just under three minutes to play, Long Beach State appeared to have cut the lead to five with a critical and one, but the play was wiped away with a charging call, the offensive foul the fifth for Aboubacar Traore. With the junior out of the game, Long Beach State were unable to complete the comeback on the road.

                Rivalry Week is up next for Long Beach State. The Beach will host Cal State Fullerton on Thursday before playing their final road game of the season at UC Irvine on Saturday. Both games will have live coverage on ESPN+.