Long Beach State men’s basketball got a much needed confidence boost with a 93-62 victory over Fresno Pacific at Walter Pyramid on Friday night.
LBSU (2-3) set season highs in points scored, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage in the victory over Division II Fresno Pacific (0-5).
“We’ve been working on not running so many sets and be structured,” LBSU coach Dan Monson said. “We’re trying to get down the floor and attack. I thought our guys did a good job of being offensively aggressive. As we trust each other more in those situations we can improve a lot like we did this week.”
LBSU transfer Chance Hunter scored 19 second-half points to finish with a game-high 21. He said after the game that he doesn’t get frustrated in the first half when the offense isn’t running though him.
“I just play with the flow of the game,” Hunter said. “If my teammates are shooting I’m fine with that. When my teammates give me the opportunity to score I just take advantage of it.”
Fellow sophomore Michael Carter III finished with 16 points and six assists. The Beach finished with 16 assists, while Colin Slated added five.
“It’s been hard getting used to the offense but now coach has been telling us to dribble for each other,” Carter said. “That means penetrate for each other. When we make a move and get by one guy there’s always another coming, which means somebody is open on the other side. We were just locked in when it came to that.”
Junior Drew Cobb chipped in 12 points off the bench while leading the Beach with a game-high eight rebounds. The LBSU beach scored 38 points.
Despite being undersized, Fresno Pacific was able to pull down 13 offensive rebounds, and that was Monson’s biggest concern after the lopsided win.
“If this team is going to be as good as they’re capable of being we have to take in personal on the boards,” Monson said. “It seems like with every rebound there’s a problem.”
Fresno Pacific was able to play LBSU close in the first half, and the game was tied 19-19 when Cobb sparked a 7-0 run. The Beach finished the first half on a 13-5 run to take the lead for good. LBSU led 39-29 at halftime.
All 12 active LBSU players scored in the game, including redshirt Jeffrey Yan who got a huge ovation when he scored his first collegiate basket in the last minute.
The LBSU men’s volleyball team was given their NCAA National Championship rings in a halftime ceremony.
LBSU hits the road to face No. 14 Arizona in a non-bracketed game of the Wooden Legacy on Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. PT and the game will be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks.
PHOTOS: Long Beach State vs. Fresno Pacific, NCAA Basketball
