# Long Beach State Beach men's basketball

The Long Beach State Beach men's basketball team represents California State University, Long Beach in Long Beach, California. The school's team competes in the Big West Conference. Because they won the 2024 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament, the team received an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament; the last time Long Beach State competed in this tournament was 2012. The Beach is currently coached by Chris Acker. Long Beach State officially changed their nickname with the NCAA to "Beach" from "49ers" prior to the 2019–20 season.
In the 2006–07 season, the 49ers finished with a 24–8 (12–2) record, the Big West conference championship, and the school's first trip to the NCAA tournament in 12 years. Star guard Aaron Nixon was named Big West player of the year, as well as being selected as an AP Honorable Mention All-American.
In 2008, the team began a three-year probation term, vacated 18 victories from their 2005–2006 season, and reduced scholarships and recruiting in order to keep eligibility for postseason play.

## Postseason results
### NCAA Division I

Long Beach State has appeared in nine NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 7–11.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1970 | | First Round Sweet Sixteen Regional third place Game | Weber State UCLA Santa Clara | W 93–73 L 65–88 L 86–89 |
| 1971* | | First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | Weber State Pacific UCLA | W 77–68 W 78–65 L 55–57 |
| 1972* | | First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | BYU San Francisco UCLA | W 95–90$^{OT}$ W 75–55 L 57–73 |
| 1973* | | First Round Sweet Sixteen Regional third place Game | Weber State San Francisco Arizona State | W 88–75 L 67–77 W 84–80 |
| 1977 | | First Round | Idaho State | L 72–83 |
| 1993 | 11 | First Round | (6) Illinois | L 72–75 |
| 1995 | 13 | First Round | (4) Utah | L 64–76 |
| 2007 | 12 | First Round | (5) Tennessee | L 86–121 |
| 2012 | 12 | First Round | (5) New Mexico | L 68–75 |
| 2024 | 15 | First Round | (2) Arizona | L 65–85 |

### NCAA Division II

The 49ers appeared in one NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament. Their combined record was 1–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1961 | Regional Semifinals Sweet Sixteen | Chapman UC Santa Barbara | W 70–66 L 54–58 |

### NIT results

Long Beach State has appeared in nine National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 2–9.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1980 | First Round Second Round | Pepperdine UNLV | W 104–87 L 81–90 |
| 1988 | First Round | Stanford | L 77–80 |
| 1990 | First Round Second Round | Arizona State Hawaiʻi | W 86–71 L 79–84 |
| 1992 | First Round | TCU | L 61–73 |
| 2000 | First Round | California | L 66–70 |
| 2011 | First Round | Washington State | L 74–85 |
| 2013 | First Round | Baylor | L 66–112 |
| 2016 | First Round | Washington | L 102–107 |
| 2022 | First Round | BYU | L 72–93 |

## Beach in the NBA

The following former Long Beach State players have played professionally for the National Basketball Association:
| Position | Name | Height | Weight (lbs.) | Hometown | Draft Year | Pick | Draft Team | Most Recent Team | Years Active |
| G | James Cotton | 6'5" | | Bellflower, California | 1997 | 32nd | Seattle SuperSonics | Chicago Bulls | 1997–1999 |
| F | Craig Dykema | 6'8" | 190 | Lakewood, California | 1981 | 66th | Phoenix Suns | Phoenix Suns | 1981–1982 |
| SF | James Ennis III | 6'6" | 215 | Ventura, California | 2013 | 50th | Atlanta Hawks | Denver Nuggets | 2015–2022 |
| F | Leonard Gray | 6'8" | 240 | Kansas City, Kansas | 1974 | 26th | Seattle SuperSonics | Washington Bullets | 1974–1977 |
| F | Bob Gross | 6'6" | 200 | San Pedro, California | 1975 | 25th | Portland Trail Blazers | San Diego Clippers | 1975–1983 |
| G | Lucious Harris | 6'5" | 190 | Los Angeles | 1993 | 28th | Dallas Mavericks | Cleveland Cavaliers | 1993–2007 |
| F | Juaquin Hawkins | 6'7" | 205 | Lynwood, California | 1996 | UD | Los Angeles Lakers | Houston Rockets | 1996–2003 |
| G | Craig Hodges | 6'2" | 190 | Park Forest, Illinois | 1982 | 48th | San Diego Clippers | Chicago Bulls | 1982–1992 |
| G/F | Glenn McDonald | 6'6" | 190 | Los Angeles | 1974 | 17th | Boston Celtics | Milwaukee Bucks | 1974–1977 |
| F | Eric McWilliams | 6'8" | 200 | Denver | 1972 | 37th | Houston Rockets | Houston Rockets | 1972–1973 |
| F/C | Cliff Pondexter | 6'9" | 233 | Fresno, California | 1974 | 16th | Chicago Bulls | Chicago Bulls | 1974–1978 |
| G/F | Ed Ratleff | 6'6" | 195 | Columbus, Ohio | 1973 | 6th | Houston Rockets | Houston Rockets | 1973–1978 |
| F | Sam Robinson | 6'7" | 190 | Los Angeles | 1970 | 91st | Seattle SuperSonics | Seattle SuperSonics | 1970–1972 |
| F | Bryon Russell | 6'7" | 225 | San Bernardino, California | 1993 | 45th | Utah Jazz | Denver Nuggets | 1993–2006 |
| F | Chuck Terry | 6'6" | 215 | Long Beach, California | 1972 | 29th | Milwaukee Bucks | New York Nets | 1972–1977 |
| F/C | George Trapp | 6'8" | 205 | Highland Park, Michigan | 1971 | 5th | Atlanta Hawks | Detroit Pistons | 1971–1976 |
| G | Casper Ware | 5'10" | 175 | Cerritos, California | 2012 | UD | Philadelphia 76ers | Philadelphia 76ers | 2014 |
| F | Michael Wiley | 6'9" | 200 | Long Beach, California | 1980 | 39th | San Antonio Spurs | San Diego Clippers | 1980–1982 |
| G | Morlon Wiley | 6'4" | 185 | Long Beach, California | 1988 | 46th | Dallas Mavericks | Atlanta Hawks | 1988–1995 |
| G | Rickey Williams | 6'1" | 175 | Buffalo, New York | 1978 | 190th | New Orleans Jazz | Utah Jazz | 1982–1983 |

## Retired numbers

Four numbers have been retired in Long Beach State basketball history:
Long Beach State Beach retired numbers :
| No. | Player | Position | Career | No. ret. |
| 20 | Glenn McDonald | SF | 1971–1974 | 2018 |
| 30 | Lucious Harris | SG | 1989–1993 | 2007 |
| 32 | Bryon Russell | SF | 1990–1993 | 2010 |
| 42 | Ed Ratleff | SG/SF | 1970–1973 | 1991 |