Jump to content

Long Beach State Beach men's basketball

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Long Beach State Beach men's basketball
2024–25 Long Beach State Beach men's basketball team
UniversityCalifornia State University, Long Beach
Head coachChris Acker (1st season)
ConferenceBig West
LocationLong Beach, California
ArenaWalter Pyramid
(capacity: 4,200)
NicknameBeach
ColorsBlack and gold[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
Alternate jersey
Team colours
Alternate
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1971, 1972
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1961†, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
NCAA tournament round of 32
1961†
NCAA tournament appearances
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1993, 1995, 2007, 2012, 2024
at Division II level
Conference tournament champions
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1993, 1995, 2007, 2012, 2024
Conference regular season champions
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1996, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022

The Long Beach State Beach men's basketball team represents California State University, Long Beach in Long Beach, California. The school's team competes in the Big West Conference. Because they won the 2024 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament, the team received an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament; the last time Long Beach State competed in this tournament was 2012. The Beach is currently coached by Chris Acker.[2] Long Beach State officially changed their nickname with the NCAA to "Beach" from "49ers" prior to the 2019–20 season.[3]

In the 2006–07 season, the 49ers finished with a 24–8 (12–2) record, the Big West conference championship, and the school's first trip to the NCAA tournament in 12 years. Star guard Aaron Nixon was named Big West player of the year, as well as being selected as an AP Honorable Mention All-American.

In 2008, the team began a three-year probation term, vacated 18 victories from their 2005–2006 season, and reduced scholarships and recruiting in order to keep eligibility for postseason play.[4]

Postseason results

[edit]

NCAA Division I

[edit]

Long Beach State has appeared in nine NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 7–11.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1970 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional third place Game
Weber State
UCLA
Santa Clara
W 93–73
L 65–88
L 86–89
1971* First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Weber State
Pacific
UCLA
W 77–68
W 78–65
L 55–57
1972* First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
BYU
San Francisco
UCLA
W 95–90OT
W 75–55
L 57–73
1973* First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional third place Game
Weber State
San Francisco
Arizona State
W 88–75
L 67–77
W 84–80
1977 First Round Idaho State L 72–83
1993 11 First Round (6) Illinois L 72–75
1995 13 First Round (4) Utah L 64–76
2007 12 First Round (5) Tennessee L 86–121
2012 12 First Round (5) New Mexico L 68–75
2024 15 First Round (2) Arizona L 65–85

NCAA Division II

[edit]

The 49ers appeared in one NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament. Their combined record was 1–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1961 Regional Semifinals
Sweet Sixteen
Chapman
UC Santa Barbara
W 70–66
L 54–58

NIT results

[edit]

Long Beach State has appeared in nine National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 2–9.

Year Round Opponent Result
1980 First Round
Second Round
Pepperdine
UNLV
W 104–87
L 81–90
1988 First Round Stanford L 77–80
1990 First Round
Second Round
Arizona State
Hawaiʻi
W 86–71
L 79–84
1992 First Round TCU L 61–73
2000 First Round California L 66–70
2011 First Round Washington State L 74–85
2013 First Round Baylor L 66–112
2016 First Round Washington L 102–107
2022 First Round BYU L 72–93

Beach in the NBA

[edit]
Bob Gross, of Long Beach State, whose number was retired by the Portland Trail Blazers

The following former Long Beach State players have played professionally for the National Basketball Association:[5]

Position Name Height Weight (lbs.) Hometown Draft Year Pick Draft Team Most Recent Team Years Active
G James Cotton 6'5" Bellflower, California 1997 32nd Seattle SuperSonics Chicago Bulls 1997–1999
F Craig Dykema 6'8" 190 Lakewood, California 1981 66th Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns 1981–1982
SF James Ennis III 6'6" 215 Ventura, California 2013 50th Atlanta Hawks Denver Nuggets 2015–2022
F Leonard Gray 6'8" 240 Kansas City, Kansas 1974 26th Seattle SuperSonics Washington Bullets 1974–1977
F Bob Gross 6'6" 200 San Pedro, California 1975 25th Portland Trail Blazers San Diego Clippers 1975–1983
G Lucious Harris 6'5" 190 Los Angeles 1993 28th Dallas Mavericks Cleveland Cavaliers 1993–2007
F Juaquin Hawkins 6'7" 205 Lynwood, California 1996 UD Los Angeles Lakers Houston Rockets 1996–2003
G Craig Hodges 6'2" 190 Park Forest, Illinois 1982 48th San Diego Clippers Chicago Bulls 1982–1992
G/F Glenn McDonald 6'6" 190 Los Angeles 1974 17th Boston Celtics Milwaukee Bucks 1974–1977
F Eric McWilliams 6'8" 200 Denver 1972 37th Houston Rockets Houston Rockets 1972–1973
F/C Cliff Pondexter 6'9" 233 Fresno, California 1974 16th Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls 1974–1978
G/F Ed Ratleff 6'6" 195 Columbus, Ohio 1973 6th Houston Rockets Houston Rockets 1973–1978
F Sam Robinson 6'7" 190 Los Angeles 1970 91st Seattle SuperSonics Seattle SuperSonics 1970–1972
F Bryon Russell 6'7" 225 San Bernardino, California 1993 45th Utah Jazz Denver Nuggets 1993–2006
F Chuck Terry 6'6" 215 Long Beach, California 1972 29th Milwaukee Bucks New York Nets 1972–1977
F/C George Trapp 6'8" 205 Highland Park, Michigan 1971 5th Atlanta Hawks Detroit Pistons 1971–1976
G Casper Ware 5'10" 175 Cerritos, California 2012 UD Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers 2014
F Michael Wiley 6'9" 200 Long Beach, California 1980 39th San Antonio Spurs San Diego Clippers 1980–1982
G Morlon Wiley 6'4" 185 Long Beach, California 1988 46th Dallas Mavericks Atlanta Hawks 1988–1995
G Rickey Williams 6'1" 175 Buffalo, New York 1978 190th New Orleans Jazz Utah Jazz 1982–1983

Retired numbers

[edit]
Ratleff was twice a consensus first-team All-American.

Four numbers have been retired in Long Beach State basketball history:

Long Beach State Beach retired numbers
No. Player Position Career No. ret. Ref.
20 Glenn McDonald SF 1971–1974 2018 [6]
30 Lucious Harris SG 1989–1993 2007 [7]
32 Bryon Russell SF 1990–1993 2010 [7]
42 Ed Ratleff SG/SF 1970–1973 1991 [7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Long Beach Athletics Style Guide" (PDF). June 21, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. ^ Kirk, Roger (April 2, 2024). "Chris Acker Selected As The New Head Men's Basketball Coach At Long Beach State" (Press release). Long Beach State Athletics. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  3. ^ Athletics, Long Beach State University (2019-11-04). "New-Look Long Beach State Opens Season Wednesday At UCLA". Long Beach State University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  4. ^ "NCAA penalizes Long Beach State men's basketball program". The Sporting News. Associated Press. March 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  5. ^ "NBA & ABA Players Who Played For Cal State Long Beach". Basketball-Reference.com. 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  6. ^ Long Beach State basketball alumnus Glenn McDonald has his jersey retired By HUNTER LEE at Press Telegram - November 10, 2018
  7. ^ a b c Long Beach State All-Time Honors at Basketball Record Book, p. 91 (archived)
[edit]