Long Beach State men’s basketball snapped a five-game losing streak by beating Utah Valley 68-65 at Walter Pyramid last Saturday. The Beach (4-9) hadn’t won a game since Thanksgiving but used a new starting lineup to get back on track with only three nonconference games left on the schedule.
Michael Carter III and Colin Slater (pictured) both scored a team-high 15 points, while Chance Hunter finished with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds. Freshman Max De Geest and senior Jordan Roberts rounded out the new starting lineup that saw Utah Valley (5-9) make the first basket of the game. Slater drilled a 3-pointer in response, and LBSU didn’t trail again.
After missing four games, senior captain Drew Cobb returned to the floor and bolstered the Beach’s defense. He also sparked an 11-0 run that broke a 17-17 tie and helped give LBSU a 35-31 lead at halftime.
The Beach opened the second half with another run to build a 13-point lead, but the Wolverines fought back and tied the game 60-60 with 2:17 to play. Slater and Carter III put LBSU back on top with consecutive 3-pointers, and Carter III sealed the victory with a pair of free throws late.
Freshman Joshua Morgan had four of the eight blocks for LBSU while Utah Valley was held to 35.8 percent shooting on the night.
The Beach is visiting Seattle at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
https://www.the562.org/2019/12/23/photos-long-beach-state-vs-utah-valley-ncaa-basketball/
LBSU Women’s Basketball
The Beach (5-8) split its games at the Women Of Troy Classic last weekend with a win over UT Rio Grande Valley and a loss to host USC. Sophomore Justina King led LBSU with 20 points in the win, and junior Shanaijah Davison chipped in 17 points.
LBCC Men’s Basketball
The Vikings (9-4) finished 2019 with a pair of wins on the road over Mt. San Antonio and Pierce last week. LBCC is shooting 49.1 percent from the field as a team and is averaging 84.2 points per game. The Vikings will return to action on Jan. 6 at home against Golden West.
LBCC Women’s Basketball
The Vikings (6-6) split its two games at the El Camino Crossover tournament last week, and will be at the Colleen Riley Holiday Tournament this weekend. They’ll start against West Hills-Lemoore on Saturday.
LBSU Women’s Water Polo
California natives Rachael Kowalchick and Mariah Walker signed their National Letters of Intent to join the Beach in 2021 last week.
Kowalchick set the school record for most points (265) and most goals (208) after four years at Oak Ridge High. She was also named First-Team All-League three times, and has competed in Junior Olympics.
Walker was named All-League four times while playing at Santa Clara High, and also competed in Olympic Development Programs in 2017.
LBSU Beach Volleyball
The Beach announced its 2020 schedule last week that has 14 home matches that includes top-ranked UCLA and Pepperdine.
LBSU opens the season with a home tri-dual on Feb. 26 where is will host Vanguard, Concordia and Santa Clara. The Big West Conference Tournament is April 17-19 in Davis, Calif.
