Long Beach State Rally Comes Up Short At Hawai’i in 62-60 Defeat

Thursday, February 13

Honolulu, Hawaii

9 p.m. PT

Long Beach State University

7-19,3-11Big West

Hawai'i

14-11,6-8Big West

Long Beach St.

Hawaii

Long Beach State Rally Comes Up Short At Hawai’i in 62-60 Defeat

2/13/2025 11:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - Hawai'i

TJ Wainwright scored 20 points, Devin Askew added 16 but a late comeback stalled just short in the final minute.

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

HONOLULU, Hawaii – Long Beach State started slow but built momentum through the game, rallying but running out of time on the road at Hawai'i in a 62-60 loss on the island.

                Long Beach State (7-19, 3-11 Big West) held Hawai'i to 62 points, forcing 16 Hawai'i (14-11, 6-8 Big West) turnovers on seven steals and limited their own giveaways to just eight with seven steals, but did not have a strong shooting night overall and lost the rebounding battle 34-20 on the night in the defeat.

                Austin Johnson got the Beach going with two quick baskets in the first half, but fell into foul trouble early and the Beach had trouble getting going offensively after his exit. Hawai'i would open up a seven-point led, but Long Beach State held strong defensively to keep the game well within reach at the break, 29-24.

                Over the first ten minutes of the second half, the Warriors would increase their lead, pushing the cushion up to its highest at 12 points with just under 10 minutes to play, but TJ Wainwright and Devin Askew would up their game at that point to help pull the Beach back.

                Wainwright scored 13 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, and sank three clutch free throws pull the lead back to five points at 57-52. Another three from the junior cut the lead to 58-55 with under 90 seconds to play, but Hawai'i got an answer from Marcus Greene to keep the lead in double-figures.

                Down five, Long Beach State hit Kam Martin for three to cut the lead to two, and nearly got a steal to give themselves a chance late, but Hawai'i sank their final two free throws and held on for the win.

                Long Beach State will get their second bye of the Big West season on Saturday, before returning to Big West play on the road next Thursday, February 20 at UC Riverside.