Long Beach State Beach men's basketball | ||||
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University | California State University, Long Beach | |||
Head coach | Chris Acker (1st season) | |||
Conference | Big West | |||
Location | Long Beach, California | |||
Arena | Walter Pyramid (capacity: 4,200) | |||
Nickname | Beach | |||
Colors | Black and gold [1] | |||
Uniforms | ||||
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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]
Long Beach State has appeared in nine NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 7–11.
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
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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 |
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 |
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 |
The following former Long Beach State players have played professionally for the National Basketball Association: [5]
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] |
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