Long Beach State had a big week with the announcement of their iconic Pyramid being renamed the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid following an $8.5 million sponsorship. On the court on Friday night, the picture was a little less pretty for the school’s men’s basketball team, as the Beach (1-5) fell to Montana State in the Battle at the Beach championship game, 78-72.
Long Beach State head coach Chris Acker was frustrated to see his team hang tough in the game before letting it slip away in the final moments as a 9-0 run sealed it for the Grizzlies.
“We played against a team that was kind of in the same situation where they’re trying to close basketball games,” said Acker. “Tonight they figure out how to win. I think that’s where we are as a program, we know we can be in games we’re just not at the point where we figured out how to close games. Ultimately that’s on me.”
The Beach trailed 61-59 late in the game thanks to a heroic effort from true freshman Gavin Sykes out of Sacramento’s Modesto Christian. Sykes scored 14 of the Beach’s 16 points in the middle section of the second half, and had the Beach within a few points. But the Grizzlies took control of the game with a 9-2 run as they drove to the basket and earned free throws, and secured several offensive rebounds down the stretch that let them run the clock out.
“It came down to rebounding and taking care of the ball,” said Acker.
Having come from a very successful San Diego State program, it was clear that Acker was frustrated by some of the “meeting the moment” breakdowns from his team.
“It has to really come from players in the sense that you have to come together and understand the moment,” he said. “We had two or three moments where it’s an opportunity to get a rebound or take care of the ball…I feel like we understand that and we want to do it, it’s just a matter of actually getting it done. When you’re on the other end of the floor and there’s no help that’s when you have to be at your closest as a group. We’re still working on that chemistry because ultimately that was a chemistry win for Montana State.”
The Grizzlies did open the door for the Beach, missing a few free throws in the final minutes. But the Beach ‘s late push was only able to close the lead to one possession for a moment, with the Grizzlies calling a timeout and getting a layup with an and-one foul out of the timeout. Acker emphasized his frustration over the late-game struggles for his squad.
“I was pretty emotional in the locker room after that loss, because I feel like we’re not meeting the moment,” he said.
The loss spoiled a career night for Sykes, who had 24 points on 9/16 shooting. Shaquil Bender had 17 points and Cole Farrell had 10.
Rob Diaz III didn’t score but did provide a spark off the bench in the first half with three assists, which stood up as a team high. Petar Majstorovic had a team-high eight boards for the Beach. The Grizzlies had five scorers in double-digits, led by Jeremiah Davis’ 15 points.
The Beach led at halftime after a buzzer-beating three by Isaiah Lewis, but gave up 43 points in the second half to the high-powered Grizzlies offense. Acker praised Sykes’ performance in the loss.
“This dude is a high-level freshman, he’s a star,” he said. “he’s an unbelievable human being and a competitor.”
Sykes didn’t want to puff his chest out too much about his career night.
“I’ve learned to step into a role and be me out there,” he said. “I’m more concerned with the defensive side. I want to get a real college win and come into the locker room with the guys and celebrate and I haven’t gotten to do that yet.”
The biggest roar of the night didn’t come for any of the NCAA players, but for a young athlete there with the YMCA as part of the YMCA of Greater Long Beach Night being held in the Pyramid. During a scoring competition the young player hit three straight three-pointers, which at that time equaled Long Beach State’s team tally.
Asked how to address his team’s ability to “meet the moment,” Acker smiled. “You throw a temper tantrum in the locker room after a loss so they know how important it is, then you go watch film on where you could meet the moment, and trust that they’ll get tired of the same story over and over again…not make excuses for not getting it done, just constantly having those conversations…we want it right now, but you can’t jump the process and that’s what we’re in right now, we’re in the process.”
Long Beach State travels to Portland State on Wednesday at 7pm for an ESPN+ streamed game before returning to the Pyramid on Nov. 30 at 2pm to host University of San Diego.
