The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State Basketball is sponsored by CSULB Distinguished Alumnus Nelson Farris.
Basketball will look different at Long Beach State this year—whether that’s seen as for better or for worse.
The Beach men’s and women’s basketball programs announced their 2025-26 schedules last week as they look to shake off down years, though that might come at the expense of fewer marquee matchups for Beach fans. Last season, the men’s team finished 7-25 under first-year coach Chris Acker, while the women’s team went 15-18.
Men’s Basketball
In the past, the men’s schedule has included big-name matchups with top programs across the country like Gonzaga last season, as well as Power 6 matchups the year before in Michigan and USC—both of which ended in statement wins for the Beach under former longtime coach Dan Monson.
This year, men’s basketball will have just one Power 6 matchup when they travel to Iowa State on Dec. 12, while hosting 16 home games in the Walter Pyramid including non-Division 1 matchups against schools like Nobel (Nov. 19) and Lincoln (Dec. 30).
The season will open with a road trip starting on Nov. 4 at San Diego State, where Acker formerly coached. The Beach will then head the opposite direction to face Fresno State and Pacific, a pair of former conference rivals.
Long Beach State will then face Illinois State in its home-opener on Nov. 16, before kicking off the Battle at the Beach tournament with its matchup against Nobel. The Beach will then face Montana State on Nov. 21, while the Bobcats will matchup against Nobel on Nov. 20.
The season will continue with a trip to Portland on Nov. 26 before hosting San Diego State on Nov. 30.
Big West play will open at UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 4 before hosting UC San Diego on Dec. 6. Long Beach State will then travel to face San Jose State (Dec. 9) and host Pepperdine on Dec.18.
The Beach will then have their matchup at Iowa State, before closing their non-conference slate at home against Lincoln.
Long Beach State will return to Big West play on Jan. 3 when they host Cal Poly, before traveling to Irvine on Jan. 8 and hosting Cal State Bakersfield on Jan. 10. The league slate will continue with home matchups against Hawaii (Jan. 31) , Cal State Fullerton (Feb. 12), UC Irvine (Feb. 19), CSUN (Feb. 21), and UC Davis (Mar. 5).
The Beach will finish the regular season on the road at Hawai’i on March 7. The Big West Championship will begin on March 11 in Henderson, Nevada.
Women’s Basketball
The Long Beach State women’s basketball team will open its season on Nov. 1 against Point Loma in an exhibition, before heading to Wyoming on Nov. 7 and COlorado State on Nov. 9.
The Beach’s home-opener will take place Nov. 12 against California Baptist, before consecutive home games against Sacramento State (Nov. 15) and San Francisco (Nov. 20). They’ll then head to Oregon State on Nov. 23.
The Big West schedule will open against UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 4 before visiting UC San Diego on Dec. 6. The Beach will host Portland on Dec. 11 before heading to the Pauley Pavilion to face UCLA on Dec. 20. Their non-conference schedule will conclude with consecutive home games against Toledo (Dec. 22) and Hope International (Dec. 29).
The Beach will open the new year with a conference matchup on the road at Cal Poly on Jan. 3 before hosting UC Irvine on Jan. 8. They’ll wind down their Big West slate with home matchups against Cal Poly (Feb. 26), Cal State Bakersfield (Feb. 28), Hawai’i (Mar. 7).
The Big West Championship will be held in Henderson at the Lee’s Family Forum, starting on March 11.
LBSU Men’s Basketball Schedule:
Nov. 4: at San Diego State
Nov. 8: at Fresno State
Nov. 12: at pacific
Nov. 16: vs. Illinois State
Nov. 19: vs. Nobel
Nov. 21: vs. Montana State
Nov. 26: at Portland
Nov. 30: vs. San Diego
Dec. 4: at Santa Barbara
Dec. 6: vs UC San Diego
Dec. 19: at San Jose State
Dec. 18: vs. pepperdine
Dec. 21: at Iowa State
Dec. 30: vs. Lincoln
Jan 3: vs. Cal Poly
Jan. 8: at UC Irvine
Jan. 10: vs. Cal State Bakersfield
Jan. 15: vs. UC Riverside
Jan. 17: at CSUN
Jan. 22: at Cal State Fullerton
Jan. 24: vs. UC Santa Barbara
Jan. 29: at UC Riverside
Jan. 31: vs. Hawai’i
Feb. 5: at UC San Diego
Feb. 12: vs. Cal State Fullerton
Feb. 14: at UC Davis
Feb. 19: vs. UC Irvine
Feb. 21: vs. CSUN
Feb. 26: at Cal Poly
Feb. 28: at Cal State Bakersfield
Mar. 5: vs. UC Davis
Mar. 7: at Hawai’i
LBSU Women’s Basketball Schedule:
Nov. 1: Vs. Point Loma
Nov. 7: at Wyoming
Nov. 9: at Colorado State
Nov. 12: vs. California Baptist
Nov. 15: vs. Sacramento State
Nov 20: vs. San Francisco
Nov 23: at Oregon State
Dec 4: vs UC Santa Barbara
Dec 6: at UC San Diego
Dec 11: vs Portland
Dec 20: at UCLA
Dec 22: vs Toledo
Dec 29: vs. Hope International
Jan 3: at Cal Poly
Jan 8: vs UC Irvine
Jan 10: at Cal State Bakersfield
Jan 15: at UC Riverside
Jan 17: vs CSUN
Jan 22: vs Cal State Fullerton
Jan 24: at UC Santa Barbara
Jan 29: vs UC Riverside
Jan 31: at Hawai’i
Feb 5: vs UC San Diego
Feb 12: at Cal State Fullerton
Feb 14: vs. UC Davis
Feb 19: at UC Irvine
Feb 21: at CSUN
Feb 26: vs. Cal Poly
Feb 28: vs. Cal State Bakersfield
Mar 5: at UC Davis
Mar 7: vs Hawai’i
