LONG BEACH, Calif. – Led by senior Jahlil Tripp, the Pacific men's basketball team put forth a dominating performance on Saturday evening, defeating Long Beach State by a score of 65-46 at the Walter Pyramid.
The win now puts the Tigers at 9-3 on the season, which matches the program's best start in 2013-14.
Tripp continues to lead the Tigers efforts, nearly recording his third double-double of the season with 15 points and eight rebounds. In addition, the senior from Brooklyn, N.Y. collected a season-high three steals en route to being named the City of Stockton Human Resources Hardworking Player of the Game.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
First Half
- Pacific shot 14-for-30 from the field for a 46.7 shooting percentage. Amari McCray shot a team-best .750 after scoring on 3-of-4 attempts.
- Each team had a basket in the first two minutes of play, but five points by Jahbril Price-Noel in the third minute of game put the Tigers up 7-2. Price-Noel scored his first basket on a fast break layup at 17:32 and then sank a three pointer at 16:58.
- The Tigers would go up by as much as seven points at 15:48 and 14:05, but Long Beach State would battle back within one point (13-12) with just over 10 minutes left to play in the half.
- Following the under-12 minute media timeout Pacific would go on a 16-6 run that led to the team's largest lead (15 pts.) of the half.
- With a made three-pointer by Beach at 1:13 and a 1-for-2 effort from the free throw line, LBSU was able to come back within 11 points (33-22) as time expired.
- Jeremiah Bailey knocked down two shots from long range, while Gary Chivichyan sank one three-pointer and scored on two jumpers, to each lead Pacific with seven points.
Second Half
- Beach would not come within less than eight points for the rest of the contest.
- With a 53-35 lead, Pacific went on a 14-2 run that put the Tigers nearly out of reach with a 20 point (57-37) lead and 7:30 left on the clock.
- The game seemed to really slip away for Long Beach State at 11:13 following an offensive foul, drawn by Austin Vereen. Tigers' Shaquillo Fritz then scored four points on consecutive alley-oop dunks, putting Pacific up 51-35.
- From 8:01-3:03 the Tigers held beach from scoring a single field goal. During the stretch, Beach scored just two points, both on free throws.
- Despite being out-scored 8-2 in the final three minute of play, Pacific had already pulled out of reach and easily secured the 19 point (65-46) victory.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
- Chivichyan has scored double figures in his last three contests, including a 13 point effort against Long Beach State. Also for the third-consecutive game, the graduate transfer from Hollywood, Calif., has scored nine points from beyond the arc. Chivichyan has consistently shot .500 or above from the field with a 5-for-10 mark against Beach.
- Justin Moore, who averages over 10 points per game, was held to just five points, but made up for it on defense with a season-best seven rebounds. Moore also dished out four assists.
- Pierre Crockrell II, who leads the WCC in assist/turnover ratio also totaled four assists without committing a turnover.
AS A TEAM
- The importance of depth showed Saturday as the Tigers outscored Beach, 32-8 off of the bench.
- Pacific held Long Beach State to 31.5 shooting from the field, marking it the second time this season it has held a Division I opponent at 32.0 percent or lower from the field.
- The Tigers topped Beach in nearly every statistical category — made three-pointers (7-3), rebounds (39-34), assists (12-3), and blocks (4-1). LBSU edged Pacific in steals, 7-6.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Tigers have just four more games before the start of the 2020 West Coast Conference season. Next up for Pacific is a home game against CSUN. The Tigers and Matadors will tip off on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3:00 p.m. Video, audio, and live stats links can be found at pacifictigers.com.
FOLLOW US
For more information about the Pacific men's basketball team, be sure to follow them on twitter (@PacificMensBB) and on Instagram (pacificmensbb).
