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Long Beach State falls to UC Davis in OT for 7th straight loss

February 7, 2025

LONG BEACH — In a season marked by dramatic peaks and valleys, the Long Beach State men’s basketball team got another glimpse of light on Thursday night.

LBSU forced overtime against visiting UC Davis in a Big West Conference matchup at the Walter Pyramid, but that was as close as it would get.

T.Y. Johnson scored 12 of his game-high 33 points in overtime to lift the Aggies to a 73-65 victory and hand Long Beach its seventh consecutive loss.

LBSU also lost in overtime to first-place UC Irvine on Jan. 30.

“Our group is learning valuable lessons,” first-year Long Beach head coach Chris Acker said. “Obviously, no one’s more frustrated than the players that are on the floor. I know they wanted to get this one tonight. Another overtime loss at home.”

LBSU (7-17 overall, 3-9 Big West) lost eight straight nonconference games in November, regrouped to win five straight, including its first two Big West Conference games in early December, but hasn’t won since beating UC Davis (13-10, 7-5) on the road on Jan. 11.

Johnson came in leading the conference in scoring at 21.2 ppg, which was also the sixth-best mark in the nation, and was second in steals (2.5 spg).

He was matched up against Long Beach senior point guard Devin Askew, who came in fourth in the Big West in scoring (18.4 ppg) and tops in assists (4.6 apg).

Askew did his part, finishing with 17 points and four assists.

“He’s getting double- and triple-teamed all night, every game,” Acker said of Askew. “I know he’s frustrated as well with not being able to come out with these W’s.”

Askew made two free throws in a one-and-one situation with 5.8 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 59-59, and the Aggies were unable to convert on the other end, sending LBSU to overtime for the second time in the past three games.

Pablo Tamba scored inside to start overtime and Johnson hit a pull-up 3-pointer to extend the Aggies’ lead to 64-59.

Long Beach cut the deficit to one on two free throws by Kam Martin, but Johnson hit a pull-up jumper and then another 3-pointer for a 69-63 lead with 2:06 left and LBSU wasn’t able to get back within one possession.

“We’re just learning how to win based on what we have and what we’re trying to do,” Acker said. “Obviously, we want to win, but I’m proud of the fight that our guys put up tonight.”

Askew had 32 points and five assists in the first matchup against Davis, an 84-73 LBSU win, and Johnson had 31 points and three steals.

Askew scored seven points in the first half Thursday and Andrew Nagy also scored seven, but it was the contributions of Varick Lewis and Cam Denson off the bench that helped Long Beach take a 30-29 lead into halftime.

Denson scored seven points in the opening 20 minutes and Lewis scored six, both more than their season averages.

Denson finished with 10 points, the only other player in double figures besides Askew.

“Cam is an amazing player, especially when his motor is going and he’s running,” Askew said. “It’s always good when we see Cam running.”

Askew took just one shot through the first eight minutes, while Johnson scored nine points in the span on 3-for-5 shooting, including two 3-pointers, but Long Beach only trailed 11-8.

Askew sank his first basket on a runner in the lane to cut the lead to 13-10 with 11:26 left in the first half, and Lewis sank a 3-pointer to tie it 13-13, but the Aggies came back with a 7-0 run to take their biggest lead of the first half at 20-13.

Lewis followed with his second 3-pointer of the first half to ignite a 12-0 run and give LBSU a 25-20 lead with 4:44 left in the opening half.

Davis strung together another 7-0 run to retake the lead at 29-27, but Askew drilled a 3-pointer with 46 seconds left to move Long Beach back ahead 30-29 and that score remained at the half.

Johnson didn’t score again after making a layup to give the Aggies an 11-8 lead.

UP NEXT

Long Beach hosts Cal State Northridge on Saturday at 4 p.m.

BIG WEST STANDINGS

Through Thursday, Feb. 6

UC Irvine – 20-3, 10-1

UC San Diego – 19-4, 9-2

CS Northridge – 16-7, 8-4

UC Riverside – 15-9, 8-4

UC Santa Barbara – 15-8, 7-5

UC Davis – 13-10, 7-5

Hawaii – 13-10, 5-7

CS Bakersfield – 10-14, 4-8

Cal Poly (SLO) – 9-15, 3-9

Long Beach State – 7-17, 3-9

CS Fullerton – 6-18, 1-11

Orange County Register

News Details

Long Beach State falls to UC Davis in OT for 7th straight loss

UP NEXT

BIG WEST STANDINGS

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