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Long Beach State edged by UCSB as losing streak reaches 11 games

February 23, 2025

LONG BEACH — Chris Acker didn’t lose more than two games in a row in his five years as an assistant coach at San Diego State.

It’s been a different story in his first season at the helm for Long Beach State.

LBSU lost its 11th consecutive game on Saturday afternoon, all in Big West play.

In consistent fashion, Long Beach stayed close with UC Santa Barbara for most of the game, made a late surge to get within a basket, but ultimately lost, 58-56, at the Walter Pyramid.

“Another frustrating two-point loss, but we’re not going to be that program that’s bitter or gets down,” said Acker, whose team is in serious jeopardy of missing the eight-team Big West Tournament with four games left in the regular season. “We have to regroup and figure out how we can put ourselves in a better position to win the next one. That’s the mentality.”

The defense showed up on time for Long Beach, holding the Gauchos to 30.9% shooting from the floor, but the offense did too little too late.

Long Beach shot 32.7% overall and just 2 for 13 from 3-point range.

Devin Askew scored 15 points and TJ Wainwright added 11 for LBSU (7-21 overall, 3-13 Big West).

Andrew Nagy contributed nine points off the bench and Derrick Michael Xzavierro added six points and 11 rebounds for Long Beach.

“(Xzavierro) did a tremendous job on the glass, but I’m really proud of Nagy. He came off the bench and gave us a spark,” Acker said. “He had some great plays around the rim.”

Stephan Swenson had 16 points, five rebounds and four steals to pace UCSB, while Colin Smith had 13 points in a reserve role to lead UCSB (18-10, 10-7).

The Gauchos led by 11 with three minutes left when Long Beach finally discovered its offense.

LBSU scored nine unanswered points to cut the deficit to 58-56 with 37.7 seconds left and got the ball back after a backcourt violation with 29.2 seconds remaining.

Askew missed from in close, but Long Beach regained possession again after a backcourt turnover by UCSB with 7.3 seconds to go. Askew was forced to pass the ball up to Kam Martin under pressure and he missed a desperation 3-point heave at the buzzer.

“We had (Martin) coming off a stagger on the backside and they just did a great job guarding it,” Acker said. “The ball was directed, the guys executed, the ball just didn’t go in, so hats off to Santa Barbara for getting that done.”

Three of LBSU’s past seven losses have been by two points or fewer and two others went to overtime.

“Each loss is just as heavy as the last four, whether we’re playing Caltech or we’re playing Gonzaga, it doesn’t matter,” said Long Beach forward Austin Johnson, whose team endured an eight-game losing streak during nonconference play as well. “We just want to win.”

The Gauchos held a 27-22 lead at halftime, despite shooting just 25% from the floor. They had the advantage because they held Long Beach to 27.6% shooting, including an 0-for-8 showing from 3-point range.

The Gauchos missed eight of their first nine shots while falling behind 8-3, but that was as big a lead as LBSU ever had.

Kenny Pohto scored down low to give UCSB its first lead at 14-12.

Johnson scored off one of LBSU’s eight first-half offensive rebounds to move it back in front 18-17 with 5:31 left in the half, but the Gauchos scored the next six points, all on free throws, to take their biggest advantage of the opening half at 23-18.

Both teams combined for just 15 field goals in the opening half and 16 free throws.

“I told them at halftime, we were zero percent from the 3-point line, 28 or 25 from the field, we were playing horrible offensively, couldn’t make a shot, and they were in the game,” Acker said. “They were in a five-point game.”

Orange County Register

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Long Beach State edged by UCSB as losing streak reaches 11 games

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