Long Beach State wins Big West title, takes coach Dan Monson dancin' in final season with Beach
AP
Mar 17, 2024
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) Lassina Traore had a career-high 25 points, Marcus Tsohonis scored 25 and hit two clutch free throws with 3.6 seconds remaining to help No. 4 seed Long Beach State Beach beat second-seeded UC Davis Aggies 74-70 on Saturday night in the championship game of the Big West Conference Tournament, sending coach Dan Monson to the NCAA Tournament in his final season with the Beach.
It was an improbable run for the Beach after the school announced on Monday it would part ways with Monson after 17 seasons.
Lassina Traore sank 12 of 17 shots and his only free throw for Long Beach State (21-14), which entered the tournament on a five-game losing streak before beating No. 5 seed UC Riverside and top-seeded UC Irvine to reach the final. He added nine rebounds, five of them at the offensive end. Tsohonis hit 8 of 21 shots with four 3-pointers and 5 of 6 foul shots.
Aboubacar Traore, no relation to Lussina, finished with seven points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Beach. AJ George added nine points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Ty Johnson paced the Aggies (20-13) with 30 points, six rebounds and four assists. Elijah Pepper hit four 3-pointers and scored 21, adding nine rebounds and three assists.
Johnson had 11 points and Pepper scored 10 to guide UC Davis to a 32-27 advantage at halftime. Tsohonis had 15 points at the break to keep Long Beach State close.
Lussina Traore scored 19 in the second half. His rebound basket pulled Long Beach State even at 54-all and George followed with a 3-pointer to give the Beach a 57-54 lead with 7:29 remaining. It was their first lead since 15-12.
UC Davis closed to within a point twice and trailed 72-70 on an Ade Adebayo layup with 4 seconds to go, but Tsohonis was clutch at the line to wrap up the win.
Monson, who started Gonzaga's unprecedented run of success when he led the Bulldogs to the Elite Eight in 1999 before leaving to take over an embattled Minnesota Golden Gophers program and turning Gonzaga's reins over to Mark Few, has the Beach in the Big Dance for the first time since he took them 2012 when LBSU was known as the 49ers.
Monson leaves as the school's winningest coach. He currently has 275 victories against 272 losses.
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1st Half
LBST
Beach
27
UCD
Aggies
32
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Beach gains possession)
19:39
Messiah Thompson misses three point jump shot
19:37
Kane Milling defensive rebound
19:20
Ty Johnson misses three point jump shot
19:18
Niko Rocak offensive rebound
19:00
Ty Johnson misses two point jump shot
18:58
Ty Johnson offensive rebound
18:44
Elijah Pepper misses three point jump shot
18:42
Aboubacar Traore defensive rebound
18:17
Marcus Tsohonis misses three point jump shot
18:15
Elijah Pepper defensive rebound
18:00
Elijah Pepper turnover (Jadon Jones steals)
17:46
Marcus Tsohonis misses two point jump shot
17:44
Lassina Traore offensive rebound
17:41
Lassina Traore misses two point jump shot
17:39
Elijah Pepper defensive rebound
17:21
Ty Johnson misses two point layup
17:19
Lassina Traore defensive rebound
17:15
Messiah Thompson misses two point layup
17:13
Aggies defensive rebound
17:06
Messiah Thompson personal foul
16:50
Elijah Pepper misses two point jump shot
16:48
Jadon Jones defensive rebound
16:40
Marcus Tsohonis misses two point layup
16:38
Elijah Pepper defensive rebound
16:33
Messiah Thompson personal foul
16:17
Elijah Pepper misses two point jump shot
16:15
Aggies offensive rebound
16:15
Aboubacar Traore personal foul
16:02
Kane Milling turnover (Marcus Tsohonis steals)
15:57
+2
Aboubacar Traore makes two point dunk (Marcus Tsohonis assists)
2-0
15:35
+2
Ty Johnson makes two point jump shot (Elijah Pepper assists)
2-2
15:08
+2
Lassina Traore makes two point jump shot (Marcus Tsohonis assists)
4-2
14:51
Elijah Pepper misses three point jump shot
14:49
Jadon Jones defensive rebound
14:37
Jadon Jones misses two point jump shot
14:35
Kane Milling defensive rebound
14:32
Pablo Tamba misses two point layup
14:30
Aboubacar Traore defensive rebound
14:16
+2
Lassina Traore makes two point dunk (Marcus Tsohonis assists)
6-2
14:14
TV timeout
13:47
Jadon Jones blocks Kane Milling's three point jump shot
13:45
Leo DeBruhl offensive rebound
13:36
Leo DeBruhl misses two point jump shot
13:34
Jadon Jones defensive rebound
13:32
Lassina Traore misses two point layup
13:30
Pablo Tamba defensive rebound
13:16
Ty Johnson misses two point jump shot
13:14
Aboubacar Traore defensive rebound
13:07
+2
Marcus Tsohonis makes two point jump shot
8-2
12:52
+3
Ty Johnson makes three point jump shot (Francesco Borra assists)
8-5
12:30
+2
Marcus Tsohonis makes two point jump shot (Aboubacar Traore assists)
10-5
12:03
Kane Milling misses two point jump shot
12:01
Jadon Jones defensive rebound
11:52
+3
Marcus Tsohonis makes three point jump shot
13-5
11:39
Ty Johnson misses three point jump shot
11:37
Aboubacar Traore defensive rebound
11:26
Leo DeBruhl personal foul
11:26
TV timeout
11:22
Jadon Jones misses three point jump shot
11:20
AJ George offensive rebound
11:15
AJ George misses two point jump shot
11:13
Leo DeBruhl defensive rebound
11:06
Niko Rocak turnover (Marcus Tsohonis steals)
11:01
Marcus Tsohonis misses two point layup
10:59
AJ George offensive rebound
10:55
+2
AJ George makes two point layup
15-5
10:37
Marcus Tsohonis shooting foul (Elijah Pepper draws the foul)
10:37
Elijah Pepper misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:37
+1
Elijah Pepper makes regular free throw 2 of 2
15-6
10:28
Marcus Tsohonis turnover (Niko Rocak steals)
10:24
Ty Johnson turnover (out of bounds)
10:10
Marcus Tsohonis misses three point jump shot
10:08
Niko Rocak defensive rebound
10:00
+2
Leo DeBruhl makes two point layup
15-8
9:44
Marcus Tsohonis misses two point jump shot
9:42
Niko Rocak defensive rebound
9:38
+2
Elijah Pepper makes two point layup (Ty Johnson assists)
15-10
9:17
Amari Stroud misses two point layup
9:15
Elijah Pepper defensive rebound
9:08
Amari Stroud shooting foul (Elijah Pepper draws the foul)
9:08
+1
Elijah Pepper makes regular free throw 1 of 2
15-11
9:08
+1
Elijah Pepper makes regular free throw 2 of 2
15-12
8:57
AJ George misses two point layup
8:55
Niko Rocak defensive rebound
8:50
Leo DeBruhl turnover (Aboubacar Traore steals)
8:35
Leo DeBruhl personal foul
8:25
Ty Johnson blocks Isa Silva's two point jump shot
8:23
Elijah Pepper defensive rebound
8:19
Jadon Jones blocks Elijah Pepper's two point layup
8:17
Jadon Jones defensive rebound
8:05
Amari Stroud misses three point jump shot
8:03
Aboubacar Traore offensive rebound
8:01
Ade Adebayo personal foul
7:55
Lassina Traore misses two point jump shot
7:53
Ty Johnson defensive rebound
7:46
+3
Elijah Pepper makes three point jump shot
15-15
7:29
Jadon Jones misses three point jump shot
7:27
Francesco Borra defensive rebound
7:21
+2
Ty Johnson makes two point layup
15-17
7:20
Beach 30 second timeout
7:20
TV timeout
6:55
+2
AJ George makes two point layup (Aboubacar Traore assists)
17-17
6:31
Elijah Pepper misses three point jump shot
6:29
Pablo Tamba offensive rebound
6:26
+2
Pablo Tamba makes two point layup
17-19
6:12
Francesco Borra blocks Aboubacar Traore's two point layup
6:10
Pablo Tamba defensive rebound
6:04
+2
Ty Johnson makes two point jump shot
17-21
5:38
Marcus Tsohonis misses three point jump shot
5:36
Francesco Borra defensive rebound
5:16
Kane Milling misses three point jump shot
5:14
Lassina Traore defensive rebound
5:01
Kane Milling blocks AJ George's two point layup
4:59
Kane Milling defensive rebound
4:53
+2
Kane Milling makes two point layup
17-23
4:30
AJ George misses three point jump shot
4:28
Elijah Pepper defensive rebound
4:19
+2
Elijah Pepper makes two point layup
17-25
4:01
+3
Marcus Tsohonis makes three point jump shot (Aboubacar Traore assists)
20-25
3:51
Aggies 30 second timeout
3:51
TV timeout
3:31
Aboubacar Traore personal foul
3:17
Kane Milling turnover (traveling)
3:00
Aboubacar Traore misses two point jump shot
2:58
Kane Milling defensive rebound
2:51
Jason Hart Jr. personal foul
2:51
+1
Ade Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 2
20-26
2:51
+1
Ade Adebayo makes regular free throw 2 of 2
20-27
2:36
Sione Lose personal foul
2:25
Jason Hart Jr. misses two point jump shot
2:23
Elijah Pepper defensive rebound
2:15
Elijah Pepper misses two point layup
2:13
Lassina Traore defensive rebound
2:05
Niko Rocak shooting foul (Marcus Tsohonis draws the foul)
2:05
+1
Marcus Tsohonis makes regular free throw 1 of 2
21-27
2:05
+1
Marcus Tsohonis makes regular free throw 2 of 2
22-27
1:49
+2
Kane Milling makes two point layup (Ty Johnson assists)
22-29
1:49
Lassina Traore shooting foul (Kane Milling draws the foul)
1:49
+1
Kane Milling makes regular free throw 1 of 1
22-30
1:32
+2
Lassina Traore makes two point jump shot (Marcus Tsohonis assists)
24-30
1:16
Elijah Pepper misses three point jump shot
1:14
Marcus Tsohonis defensive rebound
1:07
+3
Marcus Tsohonis makes three point jump shot
27-30
0:53
+2
Ty Johnson makes two point jump shot
27-32
0:39
Marcus Tsohonis misses two point jump shot
0:38
Beach offensive rebound
0:38
Francesco Borra personal foul
0:30
Jadon Jones misses two point jump shot
0:28
Ty Johnson defensive rebound
0:06
Elijah Pepper turnover (Jadon Jones steals)
0:02
Amari Stroud misses two point layup
0:00
Beach offensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
LBST
Beach
47
UCD
Aggies
38
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:53
Ade Adebayo misses two point layup
19:51
Aboubacar Traore defensive rebound
19:42
Aboubacar Traore misses two point layup
19:40
Lassina Traore offensive rebound
19:37
+2
Lassina Traore makes two point jump shot
29-32
19:19
Kane Milling misses three point jump shot
19:17
Aboubacar Traore defensive rebound
19:11
Marcus Tsohonis misses two point jump shot
19:09
Ade Adebayo defensive rebound
19:00
+2
Ty Johnson makes two point jump shot
29-34
18:39
Lassina Traore misses two point jump shot
18:37
Ty Johnson defensive rebound
18:28
+2
Ty Johnson makes two point jump shot
29-36
18:05
+2
Messiah Thompson makes two point layup
31-36
17:31
Lassina Traore shooting foul (Ade Adebayo draws the foul)
17:31
+1
Ade Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 2
31-37
17:31
+1
Ade Adebayo makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-38
17:19
+2
Lassina Traore makes two point layup
33-38
17:07
Ty Johnson misses three point jump shot
17:05
Kane Milling offensive rebound
17:01
+3
Elijah Pepper makes three point jump shot (Kane Milling assists)
33-41
16:42
+2
Lassina Traore makes two point layup
35-41
16:42
Niko Rocak shooting foul (Lassina Traore draws the foul)
16:42
+1
Lassina Traore makes regular free throw 1 of 1
36-41
16:22
Ty Johnson misses two point jump shot
16:20
Aboubacar Traore defensive rebound
16:20
Francesco Borra personal foul (Aboubacar Traore draws the foul)
16:02
+2
Lassina Traore makes two point jump shot
38-41
15:42
Elijah Pepper misses three point jump shot
15:40
AJ George defensive rebound
15:14
Marcus Tsohonis misses two point jump shot
15:12
Francesco Borra defensive rebound
15:04
Jadon Jones shooting foul (Ty Johnson draws the foul)
15:04
TV timeout
15:04
+1
Ty Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
38-42
15:04
+1
Ty Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
38-43
14:54
Pablo Tamba shooting foul (Jadon Jones draws the foul)
14:54
+1
Jadon Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 3
39-43
14:54
+1
Jadon Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 3
40-43
14:54
+1
Jadon Jones makes regular free throw 3 of 3
41-43
14:26
Leo DeBruhl misses three point jump shot
14:24
Aboubacar Traore defensive rebound
14:16
Ade Adebayo blocks Aboubacar Traore's two point layup
14:14
Leo DeBruhl defensive rebound
13:51
+2
Elijah Pepper makes two point jump shot (Leo DeBruhl assists)
41-45
13:48
AJ George misses three point jump shot
13:46
Ty Johnson defensive rebound
13:44
+3
Elijah Pepper makes three point jump shot (Ty Johnson assists)
41-48
13:41
Beach 30 second timeout
13:41
TV timeout
13:18
Lassina Traore misses two point layup
13:16
Aboubacar Traore offensive rebound
13:16
Ade Adebayo shooting foul (Aboubacar Traore draws the foul)
13:14
+1
Aboubacar Traore makes regular free throw 1 of 2
42-48
13:14
+1
Aboubacar Traore makes regular free throw 2 of 2
43-48
12:56
Elijah Pepper misses three point jump shot
12:54
Jadon Jones defensive rebound
12:46
+2
AJ George makes two point layup (Aboubacar Traore assists)
45-48
12:23
Aboubacar Traore shooting foul (Niko Rocak draws the foul)
12:23
+1
Niko Rocak makes regular free throw 1 of 2
45-49
12:23
+1
Niko Rocak makes regular free throw 2 of 2
45-50
12:08
+2
Lassina Traore makes two point jump shot
47-50
11:57
Kane Milling misses two point jump shot
11:55
Aboubacar Traore defensive rebound
11:46
AJ George misses two point layup
11:44
Lassina Traore offensive rebound
11:39
+2
Lassina Traore makes two point layup
49-50
11:20
Ty Johnson misses two point jump shot
11:18
Elijah Pepper offensive rebound
11:14
Elijah Pepper misses two point layup
11:12
AJ George defensive rebound
10:45
TV timeout
10:45
Beach turnover (shot clock violation)
10:10
Kane Milling misses three point jump shot
10:08
Francesco Borra offensive rebound
10:05
+2
Ty Johnson makes two point jump shot (Francesco Borra assists)
