Men’s Basketball Nearly Topples Utah In Season Opener - Long Beach State University Athletics

Monday, November 2

Salt Lake City, Utah

7 p.m. MT

Long Beach State University

0-1,0-0Big West

Utah

1-0,0-0Big 12

Team	1	2	F
Long Beach St.	40	23	63
Utah	28	38	66

11/2/2026 8:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Long Beach State held a 17-point lead in the second half, but the Utes rallied for the win in Salt Lake City.

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

SALT LAKE CITY – Strong shooting early from Long Beach State sparked a fast start as the Beach took a 12-point lead into halftime on the road at Utah, but the Utes were able to hold on in the end for a 66-63 defeat for the Beach in the season opener for both teams.

Long Beach State (0-1) was excellent in the first half, highlighting the hopes for the team in the first 20 minutes. The Beach forced Utah (1-0) into 10 turnovers and turned those into 18 points while shooting well themselves, going 6-for-13 from three.

Things got rolling straight away for the Beach. JJ Gray hit his first two shots to put the Beach in front 5-0. Utah recovered with a 10-0 run, but the Beach answered straight back, tying the game at 18-18 and then taking a lead with just over nine minutes to play.

Up three, Long Beach State went on a 9-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Yohann Sissoko as the Beach took a 35-23 lead, and the Beach went into the half up by the same margin after a Jaden Tengan runner to close the first on top 40-28.

Starting the second half, the Beach found Adams for two threes, one of which ended in a four-point play to put the Beach in front 47-30 with just over 18 minutes to play. Long Beach State continued to hold the lead, and were on top 56-48 with just over 12 minutes to play when the lid went on the basket for the Beach.

Defensively, the Beach limited the damage but went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal during a 16-3 run for Utah that put the Utes on top 64-59 before Adams hit a designed 3-pointer. Trailing 66-63, the Beach had a chance to tie with the final possession, but the shot from Adams came up short and the Utes held on.

A Utah native, Adams began his Division I career with a 21-point effort in the defeat. Sissoko finished with 15 points and five rebounds, while JJ Gray finished in double-figures with 10 points. Trey Campbell led the Utes with 20 points, while 11 rebounds from Malek Gooma helped Utah to a 40-27 edge on the glass.

The season opening road trip continues on Saturday, when Long Beach State will face Montana State in Bozeman. That game is scheduled for a Noon PT tip with live coverage on ESPN+.