Deishuan Booker and Edon Maxhuni took turns carrying the Long Beach State men’s basketball team to 70-57 win over UC Riverside on Wednesday night at Walter Pyramid. Booker scored almost half of the LBSU points in the first half, and Maxhuni made four of his five 3-pointers in the second half as both guards finished with 21 points each.
LBSU (14-18, 8-8) celebrated Booker and fellow seniors Temidayo Yussuf, Mason Riggins, Bryan Alberts and Breamon Richard before winning its fifth consecutive games. Other conference games on Saturday will decide who The Beach plays in the Big West Conference Tournament next Thursday at Honda Center.
“It’s always hard,” LBSU coach Dan Monson said of the senior night festivities. “Two years ago when we had four or five guys leave the program, we found guys like (Booker) that spring. Those are players who came in here and helped solidify the program again. They’ve stayed the course, and I love them.”
UCR (9-22, 3-12) took a lead at the begging of each half, only to see Booker and Maxhuni take it back. LBSU solidified itself in the paint after halftime, and Yussuf grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds while scoring nine points.
“It means everything to go out with a good win,” Riggins said.
Come back next week for the Big West Tournament preview.
