Men’s Basketball Comes Up Just Short In Home Opener Against Illinois State, 82-80

Sunday, November 16

Long Beach, Calif.

4 p.m.

Long Beach State University

0-4,0-0Big West

Illinois State

2-2,0-0MVC

Illinois St.

Long Beach St.

Men’s Basketball Comes Up Just Short In Home Opener Against Illinois State, 82-80

11/16/2025 7:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Petar Majstorovic, Shaquil Bender led Long Beach State in the loss.

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

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State fought back to a late tie and had a last-second opportunity for the win, but Illinois State was able to hang on as the Beach fell 82-80 against the Redbirds in the home opener in the Walter Pyramid.

Long Beach State (0-4) trailed by as many as ten in the second half, but rallied to tie the game at 70-70 after a 3-pointer from Petar Majstorovic with just under three minutes remaining. Another bucket from the sophomore tied the game once more at 72, but Illinois State (2-2) took a six-point lead after four straight free throws, part of the 39 attempted by the Redbirds on the night.

The Beach battled back, chipping away and getting a great opportunity on a three-point play by Cole Farrell, cutting the lead to 79-77. Down four after two more free throws, Majstorovic hit a three to cut the lead to one, and new life came to the Beach as Johnny Kinsiger missed his second free throw and then fouled Farrell to send the junior to the line with a chance to tie the game.

Farrell missed his first, but grabbed the rebound off of an intentional miss on the second and raced to the corner, but his three missed and the Redbirds held on for the win.

Majstorovic finished with 19 points along with seven rebounds, leading the Beach in both categories, while Shaquil Bender finished with 18 for the Beach. Chase Walker and Ty'Reek Coleman both finished with 19 points for Illinois State, with most of their damage coming at the free throw line as the Redbirds shot 39 free throws to Long Beach State's 18, with Walker going 13-for-14 from the line on the night.

The Beach held an early lead over the Redbirds after a Bender three at 11-8, but an 11-2 run for Illinois State allowed ISU to maintain the lead for the majority of the contest. Long Beach State trailed by eight at the half, and were down 10 with just over 13 minutes to play, but an 8-0 run with threes from Bender and Isaiah Lewis brought the Beach right back into the game for a thrilling final ten minutes from the Walter Pyramid.

Long Beach State will remain at home, hosting the Battle at the Beach over three days. That tournament will start on Wednesday as the Beach hosts Nobel, then Nobel will face Montana State on Thursday before the Beach takes on Montana State on Friday to close the event.