SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Long Beach State got off to a good start in a tough road test at San Diego State, but the Aztecs ultimately pulled away from the Beach as LBSU lost the season opener on the road, 77-45.
Sophomore Petar Majstorovic was the leading scorer on the night for Long Beach State (0-1), recording his first collegiate double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Beach, as 11 players saw significant action on opening night.
Facing San Diego State (1-0), a team receiving votes, in front of 11,000 at the Viejas Arena, Long Beach State battled to a strong start. A 3-pointer from Majstorovic gave the Beach an early 9-7 lead, and after trailing by six, Long Beach State battled back to tie the game at 20-20 on a drive from Cole Farrell with just over six minutes in the first half as strong defensive play marked most of the first half.
San Diego State answered that push with a 15-2 run down the stretch in the first, ultimately taking a 40-25 lead over the Beach into the locker room. From there, the Aztec defense continued to shine while San Diego State began to get hot from three, finishing the game at 47.8 percent overall from beyond the arc. SDSU also scored 24 points off of Long Beach State turnovers, a combination that was too much for the Beach to overcome.
Freshman Dallas Washington added seven points while the Beach had nine total players on the scoreboard on the night. Miles Byrd led San Diego State with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Long Beach State will remain on the road, facing Fresno State in their next action on Saturday, November 8 in a game that will also be shown on the Mountain West Network.
