Long Beach State’s March Madness Comes To An End Against No. 9 Arizona

Thursday, March 21

Salt Lake City, Utah

11 a.m.

Long Beach State University

21-15,10-10Big West

(2) Arizona

26-8,15-5Pac-12

Long Beach St.

Arizona

Photo by: John Fajardo

Long Beach State’s March Madness Comes To An End Against No. 9 Arizona

3/21/2024 3:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Long Beach State led by five in the first half, but the Wildcats pulled away from the Beach in the second half.

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

SALT LAKE CITY – With the eyes of the country on them and most cheering on in support of the Beach, Long Beach State raced off to a fantastic start, but No. 9 Arizona recovered and held off the upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament 85-65.

                Long Beach State (21-15) were led by junior Aboubacar Traore, who finished with the 9th double-double of the season with 14 points, 15 rebounds, along with senior Amari Stroud, who had 14 points and seven rebounds off of the bench in one of the best games of his career.

                After a cagy first few minutes Marcus Tsohonis scored the first basket of the game, but Arizona (26-8) pulled out to an early lead, pushing the edge to eight after a three-point play from Pelle Larsson.

                The Beach bounced back, though getting the hopes going for the nation behind the LBSU bench, which outscored Arizona 27-8 on the night. AJ George kickstarted a 11-0 run for the Beach, with Stroud hitting a three-pointer and then a steal led to a fast-break jumper for George bookending the run as the Beach took a 22-17 lead.

DEFENSE ?? OFFENSE FOR @LBSUMBB #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/fSoafTcZKz
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2024

                A 3-pointer from Jadon Jones put the Beach back up five at 31-26, but the Wildcats tied the game up at 33-33 before the final media timeout, and took a six-point lead into the half at 41-35. A 9-0 run for Arizona to start the second half put the Beach in a big hole, and Long Beach State was never again able to pull within single digits in the second half.

                Long Beach State outrebounded the Wildcats 50-47 and had 38 points in the paint to Arizona's 32, but the Wildcats also shot 37.1% from behind the arc, hitting 13 3-pointers in total to help grab the win as all five Wildcat starters finished in double-figures.

                Junior Lassina Traore finished the game with 9 rebounds, and closes the season with 362 rebounds, a new Long Beach State single-season record.

                Long Beach State finishes the season with a 21-15 overall record, having advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history in the fifth 20-win season under Dan Monson and the 15th in program history.