Beach Rally In Second Half Falls Short At CSUN

Thursday, January 23

Northridge, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

7-13,3-5Big West

CSUN

13-6,5-3Big West

Long Beach St.

CSUN

1/23/2025 9:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - CSUN

Long Beach State outscored the Matadors by 12 in the second half, but a slow start led to a CSUN win.

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

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – TJ Wainwright scored 27 points, going 5-for-6 from three to light up the second half in a furious effort for Long Beach State, but a slow start was too much for the Beach to overcome on the road at CSUN in a 86-76 defeat.

                CSUN (13-6, 5-3 Big West) dominated the early minutes of the game, making six baskets in the first three minutes including three 3-pointers to open up a 15-6 lead. In a long run of continued play, CSUN continued to hold the edge, and led 25-10 at the first media timeout of the game coming at 12:52.

                A three-point play from TJ Wainwright got the junior going to stop that stretch, and Long Beach State (7-13, 3-5 Big West) cut the lead to eight points at 27-19 with a fast break finish from Cam Denson, but another hot stretch helped the Matadors take a 57-35 lead at the half. 11 offensive rebounds led to 10 second chance points for CSUN, and the Matadors shot 61% in the half to grab control of the game.

                Three baskets to start the second half opened up the lead to 28, but Long Beach State refused to surrender. Derrick Michael Xzavierro scored LBSU's first second-chance points of the game to stop the run, and the momentum began to turn. Two straight threes from TJ Wainwright cut the lead to 17 with 13:38 to play, and the Beach would continue to chip away, eventually pulling to within 10 at 81-71 after a three from Devin Askew.

                The rally would run out of time though, and CSUN closed out the 86-76 win. Wainwright finished with 27 points to lead the team, as the junior was 8-of-13 from the field, 6-for-7 from three and 5-for-5 from the line in an impressive performance. Kam Martin scored 13 points, Austin Johnson had 12, while Devin Askew finished with 10 points while making a career-high 10 assists for his first double-double at Long Beach State.

                Long Beach State's road trip continues on Saturday, when the Beach takes on Cal Poly from San Luis Obispo. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. from the Mott Athletics Center.