Quick Read
- Long Beach State women’s basketball lost its Big West opener to UC Santa Barbara, 67-52, after a strong defensive showing in the final quarter.
- The men’s team fell 84-77 in overtime against UCSB, with Gavin Sykes scoring 24 points and forcing OT with a late three-pointer.
- Coach Amy Wright highlighted the team’s growth and resilience, despite injuries and a tough start to the season.
- Freshmen Rosie Akot and Christy Reynoso made notable impacts for the women’s team, showing promise for the future.
- Both teams are focused on improving fundamentals and seeking a breakthrough win as Big West play continues.
Long Beach State Basketball: Grit, Growth, and Gritty Lessons in Big West Openers
Women’s Team: Finding Identity Through Adversity
For Long Beach State’s women’s basketball squad, the Big West Conference opener against UC Santa Barbara was more than just a game—it was a snapshot of a young team grappling with growing pains, searching for its rhythm amid injuries and inexperience. The 67–52 defeat at the LBS Financial Union Pyramid laid bare both their vulnerabilities and their untapped potential.
Coach Amy Wright, navigating a roster in flux, emphasized the importance of composure and consistency. “That second quarter was 21–10. When the ball’s not going in, it can’t affect the other end,” Wright reflected, highlighting how offensive struggles bled into defensive lapses. Yet, in the final quarter, the Beach showed teeth, holding one of the conference’s top scoring teams to just seven points—a glimpse of the defensive intensity they could sustain.
The Beach started strong, dominating the paint with 14 points inside during the first quarter. However, as UCSB’s shooters heated up and the Beach strayed from their inside-out approach, turnovers mounted—15 in total, fueling 22 UCSB points and swinging the halftime score to 41-30 in the Gauchos’ favor. “We got robotic. You can’t be a robot and play free basketball,” Wright admitted, recognizing the need for her team to balance structure with spontaneity.
Freshman forward Rosie Akot continued her upward trajectory, contributing eight of the team’s 17 bench points and bringing energy off the bench. JaQuoia Jones-Brown led the scoring with 15 points, while fellow freshman Christy Reynoso earned more minutes through her tenacious defense and smart plays. The mix of youth and determination was evident—even as the Beach went cold in the final stretch, missing easy layups and shooting just 2-for-12 in the last eight minutes.
Still, the foundation is there. “Rosie running the lane, catching tough passes, finishing—those things come with experience,” Wright said, hopeful that as the season progresses, these flashes will coalesce into a more complete team effort. Akot echoed the sentiment: “Just because we have losses doesn’t mean we’re a bad team. We’re growing. It’s going to come—with the right mindset.”
Men’s Team: Battling Through Overtime Heartbreak
The men’s team, meanwhile, experienced their own rollercoaster in Santa Barbara. In a thrilling overtime clash, Long Beach State fell 84-77 to UCSB, despite a heroic effort to force the extra period. Gavin Sykes was electric, scoring 24 points, including a clutch three-pointer with eight seconds left to tie the game at 67 and send it to overtime. Shaquil Bender added 19 points, and Petar Majstorovic chipped in 12 with two steals.
But UCSB’s Aidan Mahaney proved to be the difference-maker, pouring in 26 points and grabbing six rebounds. Colin Smith’s 18 points and Zion Sensley’s sharpshooting (14 points, 4-for-7 from three) kept the Gauchos just out of reach. Free throws and steals in the final moments sealed the win for UCSB, but the Beach’s resilience was impossible to ignore.
For Long Beach State (2-7, 0-1), the loss stings, but the performance signals a team capable of battling top conference foes toe-to-toe. Sykes’ late-game heroics and the squad’s ability to respond under pressure offer a blueprint for future success—if they can tighten up defensively and avoid costly mistakes in crunch time.
Photo Highlights: Moments That Tell the Story
Images captured by Joseph Kling at the562.org provide a visual testament to the intensity and emotion of these matchups. From gritty drives in the paint to fierce defensive stands and moments of celebration, the photos reveal the raw humanity behind the stats—a group of athletes learning, adapting, and striving for more.
Looking Ahead: Building on Lessons, Seeking Breakthroughs
Both Long Beach State squads are facing uphill battles in the Big West, with records that don’t yet reflect the work being put in or the flashes of potential on display. Coach Wright and her players are focused on the details: rebounding, finishing layups, and minimizing turnovers. For the men’s team, converting late-game opportunities and maintaining defensive discipline will be key.
As the season progresses, these early setbacks may well become the crucible that forges stronger, more resilient teams. There’s no denying the road ahead is steep. Yet, within these losses, there’s a palpable sense of hope—a belief that the blueprint is forming, and with the right mindset and continued growth, both teams can compete at a high level in the Big West.
For now, Long Beach State fans can find encouragement in the grit and flashes of brilliance, knowing that breakthrough wins might be just around the corner as the Beach heads into the heart of conference play.
Assessment: The results against UC Santa Barbara underscore both the challenges and the promise of Long Beach State basketball in 2025. While records show losses, the underlying narrative is one of growth, adaptation, and resilience. If the squads continue to build on their defensive tenacity and learn from their offensive lapses, they have every reason to believe that the tide will turn. The blueprint for success exists—the next step is execution.