Long Beach State Begins Big West Tourney Tonight

Cal State Long Beach men’s basketball team hopes the third time will be the charm. They seek to win the Big West Tournament and the automatic berth to the NCAA tournament that goes with it, as they face the UC Davis Aggies tonight at 6 p.m. at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos defeated the Beach in the tournament finals the past two seasons, and as the regular season champions, Long Beach was invited to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). The Beach looks to change that trend this year.

Long Beach (22-8, 15-1 Big West Conference) leads the all time series 13-2, winning both games this season, and the past six meetings.  The last time they lost to UC Davis was three years ago when they lost 82-76 at Long Beach on February 5, 2009.

All five starters for the Beach were recognized for all league honors, with Casper Ware, Larry Anderson, and TJ Robinson all receiving first team honors.  Eugene Phelps was recognized for the second team, while James Ennis received honorable Mention.

Anderson also won defensive player of the year, the second 49er in as many years, as Ware won the award last year.  However he will be doubtful this weekend  after straining his knee in the loss to Cal State Fullerton last Saturday, but should they advance he will be ready for the NCAA’s.

UC Davis (5-25, 3-13 BWC) looks to repeat what it did in 2008 when it was the first of only three teams who entered the tournament as the lower  seed to defeat the higher  seed in the first round as they defeated UC Irvine 69-68. They enter the tournament after falling 43-90 to the Santa Barbra Gauchos last Saturday.

Sophomore Guard/Forward Josh Ritchart leads the way for the aggies, averaging 11.7 points and 5.2 rebounds, shooting 39% from behind the arc.

Guard Tyler Les enters the game just five 3-pointers short of the team high (235) and he could possibly attain that record in this game.

The winner of this matchup will face the winner of the UC Riverside/Cal Poly matchup in the semi finals to be played Friday night.