This weekend is full of local high school and Long Beach State sports action.
THURSDAY
Long Beach State Men’s Basketball at UC Santa Barbara, 8 p.m.
The 49ers (13-17, 7-7) have dropped from first to a tie for fifth place in the Big West because of five losses in the last six games. This is LBSU’s third consecutive road game, and last of the season. This contest will be televised on ESPNU.
UCSB (21-7, 10-4) has the best overall record in the conference, and handed LBSU an 80-70 loss at Walter Pyramid on Feb. 15. LBSU senior Gabe Levin scored a team-high 25 points, and freshman guard Edon Maxhuni added a career-high 20 points in that game while UCSB took an early lead and held off the 49ers. Four Gauchos scored in double figures, and guard Max Heidegger leads the Big West with 19.9 points.
Long Beach State Women’s Basketball vs. UC Riverside, 7 p.m.
After winning four of their last six games to snap a 13-game losing streak, the 49ers (6-22, 4-10) can stay in the hunt for the last spot in the Big West Conference Tournament with a win this weekend. UC Riverside (8-20, 5-9) handed LBSU a 77-53 defeat on Jan. 6 despite a career-high 20 points from 49ers freshman guard Ma’Qhi Berry.
FRIDAY
High School Baseball: Wilson vs. Servite, 3 p.m.
The spring sports season officially started last weekend, and the marquee high school baseball game of this weekend might be in Orange County where Wilson (1-1) will take on Servite (2-0) in Loara Tournament action at Glover Stadium. The Bruins are scheduled to play five games in eight days as part of the tournament that includes Millikan, Lakewood and many other strong Southern California programs.
Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball at No. 11 Cal State Northridge, 7 p.m.
The No. 1 49ers play No. 11 Cal State Northridge twice this week, with a rematch of tonight’s contest on Sunday night at Walter Pyramid. The Friday night game will be broadcast online at ESPN3. LBSU swept this series last year, but lost a five-set thriller at CSUN in 2016.
Long Beach State Dirtbags vs. No. 9 Ole Miss, 6 p.m.
After hosting Arizona State at Blair Field on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Dirtbags stay at home this weekend for their second ranked opponent in as many weeks. Ole Miss (7-0) has outscored its opponents 46-19 with nine home runs. The series continues at 2 p.m. on Saturday, and concludes at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. LBSU will be back at Blair Field on Wednesday for its ninth game in 12 days against Vanderbilt at 6 p.m.
Long Beach State Women’s Water Polo at Wolverine Invitational.
This showcase in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is the fourth and final nonconference weekend for LBSU this season. The 49ers (3-8) will take on Azusa Pacific and Bucknell before facing No. 9 Michigan at 3:25 p.m. on Saturday. LBSU fell to the Wolverines last weekend 8-6 at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational.
Long Beach State Women’s Tennis vs. UC Irvine, 2 p.m.
LBSU (3-5, 1-1) is back at Rhodes Tennis Center for its first Big West match in almost a month. UC Irvine (5-4) hasn’t played a conference game this season.
SATURDAY
High School Softball: Wilson vs. Sonora, 9 a.m.
The Bruins (2-0) are continuing the six-game Savanna High School Showcase this weekend as the softball season gets underway. Wilson scored 11 runs in its first two wins over Beckman and Fullerton.
Long Beach State Softball vs. No. 22 Minnesota, 9 a.m.
This is the fourth of five games this weekend as part of the San Diego Classic. LBSU (12-3) starts on Thursday against host San Diego, and then will face No. 22 Minnesota (10-4) before closing out the showcase against Oregon State. Minnesota has hit 12 home runs this season, and has a .400 slugging percentage as a team.
Long Beach State Women’s Basketball vs. Cal State Northridge, 4 p.m.
This is the first game of a doubleheader at Walter Pyramid, and its the final regular season games for LBSU. Cecily Wilson and Darshana Ta’afua will be honored as part of senior night festivities. The 49ers beat CSUN in early February 59-51 to snap their losing streak.
Long Beach State Men’s Basketball vs. UC Riverside, 7:30 p.m.
The second half of the doubleheader is also senior night for Gabe Levin, Barry Ogalue and Quentin Shropshire. When LBSU visited UC Riverside (8-20, 3-11) on Jan. 13 the 49ers got 18 points from Levin in a sloppy 75-68 victory. It is one of only five road wins for LBSU.
SUNDAY
Beach Volleyball at Cal State Northridge
The 49ers open their season with a pair of matches at Northridge. LBSU will face CSU Bakersfield at 1 p.m. before facing the host Matadores at 3 p.m.
