Long Beach State's high-powered offense proved too much for Cal State Bakersfield to handle, as the Beach secured an 81-75 victory at the Walter Pyramid. The win was fueled by a balanced attack, with three Long Beach State players scoring 20 or more points. Petar Majstorovic led the way with 23 points, while Gavin Sykes added 22 and Rob Diaz III chipped in with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists.
The first half saw Long Beach State take control, building a 42-36 lead by halftime. The Beach's offense was clicking, with Majstorovic and Sykes combining for 25 points in the opening 20 minutes. Cal State Bakersfield's Jaden Alexander kept his team within striking distance, scoring 15 points in the first half. Alexander would go on to finish with a game-high 29 points and 7 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Beach's balanced attack.
In the second half, Long Beach State maintained its lead, despite a strong effort from Cal State Bakersfield. The Roadrunners cut the deficit to 4 points with just over 5 minutes remaining, but the Beach responded with a 7-2 run to seal the win. Diaz III was instrumental in the decisive stretch, scoring 5 points and dishing out 2 assists to help Long Beach State pull away.
The win improves Long Beach State's record to 8-13, while Cal State Bakersfield falls to 8-12. While neither team is likely to make a deep postseason run, the victory is still an important one for the Beach. As a Quadrant 4 win, it won't significantly boost Long Beach State's tournament resume, but it does help to avoid a bad loss. For Cal State Bakersfield, the defeat is also a Quadrant 4 loss, which won't hurt their resume too much, but it does make their already uphill climb to a postseason berth even more difficult.
With the loss, Cal State Bakersfield's net ranking remains at 296, while Long Beach State's net ranking improves slightly to 244. While neither team is currently in the tournament picture, the win gives Long Beach State a slight boost in confidence and momentum heading into their next game. For now, the Beach will take the win and try to build on it, while Cal State Bakersfield want to regroup and try to get back on track. The victory may not have significant tournament implications, but it's a step in the right direction for Long Beach State, and a reminder that they still have the talent to compete with anyone on a given night.