The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2022-23 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State Basketball is sponsored by CSULB Distinguished Alumnus Nelson Farris.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State men’s basketball for the 2023-24 season is sponsored by Arline & Mike Walter.
Saturday at Walter Pyramid was a fork in the road moment for Long Beach State men’s basketball.
A win over visiting UC Davis would’ve given leading-scorer Marcus Tsohonis and the other four seniors a proper second off in what might also be 17-year coach Dan Monson’s last game at Walter Pyramid. A win would have also earned the Beach a No. 3 seed for the 2024 Hercules Tires Big West Basketball Championships and a spot on the other side of the bracket as No. 1 UC Irvine.
Instead, LBSU trailed by as many as 19 points in an 88-78 loss that means a No. 4 seed for this week’s tournament in Henderson, Nevada. After winning five consecutive games in February, the Beach closed the season on a five-game losing streak. LBSU will start the quarterfinal round on Thursday.
“Obviously that’s a disappointing way to end the (regular) season,” Monson said. “Today it seemed like we were a team that lost some confidence, especially defensively. I think that this team has the character and toughness (to make a run in the tournament) but we didn’t show it today.”
Saturday started with Senior Day ceremonies for Tsohonis, Chayce Polynice, Amari Stroud, Messiah Thompson and fan-favorite Jeff Yan. They all got the start and Yan scored a bucket, much to the delight of his teammates.
“Jeff has been here for six years and no one deserves a run at the NCAA Tournament more than him,” Monson said. “He told the team today, ‘I would much rather go to the NCAA Tournament than start.’”
Yan, a Shanghai native who went to Capistrano Valley High School, came to the Beach in 2018 and has been a dedicated member of the program ever since while graduating with a degree in Business Management.
“I love The Beach, the school, the culture, the coaching staff and they really helped me fit in. It was hard at the beginning, but the person I am now, I’m different,” said Yan.
UC Davis already had the No. 2 seed in the tournament clinched before the game started, but played with more urgency than the LBSU seniors who got the start, and the regular starters who came in soon after. UC Davis took a 21-12 lead about six minute in when Elijah Pepper banked in an And-1 3-pointer.
LBSU came all the way back to tie it 31-31 at the seven minute mark on Tsohonis’ And-1 finish. AJ George (11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals), Aboubacar Traore (9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks) and Lassina Traore (10 points, 15 rebounds).
Jadon Jones (13 points, 2 blocks) also had an And-1 from 3-point range in the run, but then UC Davis retook control thanks to hot shooting from behind the arc. The Aggies went 10/16 on 3-pointers and led 46-39 at halftime.
UC Davis opened up a huge lead in the second half while Kane Milling scored a game-high 24 points with six made 3-pointers and TY Johnson chipped in 18 points. The Aggies were 24/27 at the free throw line.
LBSU was 3/16 from 3-point range and had 13 turnovers to 12 assists.
“This has been a tough way to end the year, and that doesn’t have anything to do with me or my coaching, I don’t know that I’ve had steam go on a skid like this when they’re fighting so hard,” Monson said. “We’ve also had teams go on a winning streak that quickly too.”
Monson didn’t mix words after the game about that possibly being the last one he coaches for LBSU at Walter Pyramid. This is the last year of his contract while a new athletic director settles in, but Monson said that he and Bobby Smitheran have already discussed and agreed that any decision will be made after the postseason.
“I would love to (continue to coach at LBSU) and we’ll talk about that when the season is over,” Monson said. “It’s been a great year of clarity having (my son Maddox) on the team and (son MicGuire) as a (Graduate Assistant) to just enjoy being the head coach and what a privilege it is to be the head coach at Long Beach State and not worrying about the future and just staying in the present.”
Monson was also very realistic about the current predicament.
“We’re not playing at the level that Long Beach State deserves right now. Going into this tournament we’ve got to flip the switch. I’m the head coach and I’m responsible for that… But it’s not about me and what I’m doing next year, it’s about this team and what they’re doing next week.”
Come back to The562.org later to see the full 2024 Hercules Tires Big West Basketball Championships bracket.
