Men’s Basketball Falls In Physical Contest Against Cal State Fullerton, 76-71

Thursday, February 29

Long Beach, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

18-11,10-7Big West

Cal State Fullerton

13-16,6-11Big West

Cal St. Fullerton

Long Beach St.

Photo by: John Fajardo

Men’s Basketball Falls In Physical Contest Against Cal State Fullerton, 76-71

2/29/2024 10:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - Cal State Fullerton Photo Gallery

Jadon Jones led Long Beach State with 23 points in the defeat.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State rallied from a slow start to take an eight-point lead against Cal State Fullerton in the second half, but came up just short at the end in a 76-71 defeat to the Titans.

                Long Beach State (18-11, 10-7) got off to a slow start in the first half, as Cal State Fullerton (13-16, 6-11 Big West) opened the game on an 8-0 run and led 12-5 after the first five minutes. The lead would grow to as many as 16 with just over four minutes in the first half remaining, but the Beach pushed back after the final media break.

                Jadon Jones, who scored a team-high 23 points on the night, hit a pull-up jumper to get the run going, and then a 3-pointer from Chayce Polynice and a buzzer-beating three to close the half from Jones cut the lead to 8.

                The momentum continued for Long Beach State in the second half. After Dominic Brewton scored the first basket of the half, the Beach responded with a 16-0 run to open up a six-point lead after a pair of AJ George free throws.

                The key to stopping the momentum of Long Beach State came at 8:47 remaining in the contest. Aboubacar Traore, who to that point was closing in on a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists was called for an offensive foul that was changed to a Flagrant 2 after review, removing the star forward from the game.

                Long Beach State's lead, which had grown to eight in the minutes beforehand, was cut away entirely following the sequence of four free throws following the foul and the teams traded the lead through the closing minutes.

                Down 68-64, Long Beach State rallied to tie the game with a 3-pointer from Messiah Thompson, and then took the lead with a three-point play with 1:33 remaining. A foul would be called on the Beach over every ensuing Titan possession the rest of the game, and Cal State Fullerton closed out the game from the line.

                Both Traores finished with double-doubles, as Lassina fittingly recorded his 12th of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. AJ George added 15 points with six rebounds as well for LBSU.

                Rivalry week continues for Long Beach State as the Beach takes on UC Irvine in a nationally televised game on ESPN2. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.