@fullname - @sport - Long Beach State University Athletics

Photo by: ©John Fajardo Photography

Joel Murray

Position:
Guard
Height:
6-0
Weight:
170
Class:
Junior
Major:
Civil Engineering
Hometown:
Rowlett, Texas
Prev School:
West Texas A&M

LONG BEACH STATE (2021-22): Became the first Long Beach State player to earn All-District Honors in five years, being named second-team to the 10-player list limited to Big West and West Coast Conference players … Also named First-Team All-Big West after a phenomenal first year at the Beach … Led Long Beach State in scoring and assists on the year at 16.7 points per game and 2.8 assists per game … Finished the season as the league’s leading scorer over all games … Started 30 games in his first season at the Beach … Debuted with an incredible first week, scoring 28 points to lead the Beach in a win at Idaho before scoring 30 points at No. 2 UCLA … Finished the season scoring double figures in 26 games and 20 or more in 12 … Scored 18 points against Utah Valley to be in double figures in his first three games … Led the team with 21 points in a win over Wright State … Scored 19 points in 35 minutes against LMU … Scored 20 in back-to-back games with 20 points at UCSD before scoring 24 against UC Irvine … Went a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line against the ‘Eaters …. Scored 25 points against Cal Poly while against shooting 12-for-12 from the stripe … Closed out a 10-game streak of double-figure scoring with 12 points against Cal State Fullerton … Scored 20 or more in six of the final eight games of the season, starting with 27 points against UC San Diego at home while adding a season-high eight rebounds … Scored 25 points in the Big West Tournament opener to lead the team aginst CSU Bakersfield … Led the team with 24 points in the Big West Tournament championship game as the Beach came up one point short … Again led LBSU in scoring with 24 points on the road at BYU in the NIT.

WEST TEXAS A&M: Transferred to Long Beach State after three phenomenal years at the Division II powerhouse … A second-team All-American in 2020-21 after leading the Buffs to the Division II National Championship game … Started all 22 games as a point guard, averaging a career-best 23.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game … A first-team All-Lone Star Conference and All-Defensive Team Selection … Also named to the All-Tournament Team as a junior … Named to the Top 25 Watch List for the Bevo Francis award, presented to the nation’s top non-Division I player … Also earned All-American and First-Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore, starting all 33 games for the Buffs … Averaged 19.9 points per game and shot 37.5% from three in 2019-20 … Won the 2020 Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship prior to the season being suspended due to COVID-19 … Averaged 11.7 points per game as a true freshman, earning third-team all-conference honors in his first season … A three-time Lone Star Conference All-Defensive Team selection.

HIGH SCHOOL: A three-sport athlete at Rowlett High School, competing and track and football in addition to basketball … Averaged 13.9 points per game while leading Rowlett to a third straight playoff appearance as well as a league championship … A three-time all-district selection, Murray was a first-team all-district pick as both a junior and a senior.

PERSONAL: Father Joseph played in the NBA with the 76ers following a collegiate career at Alabama … Majoring in Civil Engineering.

CAREER HIGHS
Points: 30, at UCLA, 11/15/21
Rebounds: 8, vs. UC San Diego, 2/24/22
Assists: 6, 2x, last vs. UC San Diego, 2/24/22
Steals: 5, at UC Riverside, 1/27/22
Blocks: 1, 3x, last at UC Davis, 1/29/22
3-FG Made: 3, 2x, last at CS Fullerton, 3/12/22
FG Made: 13, at UCLA, 11/15/21
FT Made: 12, 2x, last vs. Cal Poly, 2/5/22