Oregon State Basketball: Opponent Preview - Long Beach State 49ers (Game 3)

Long Beach State 49ers (2-0)

• Head Coach: Dan Monson (11th Season)
• Top Performer: Barry Ogalue (17.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG)
• Points For: 89.0 PPG (T-64th)
• Points Against: 70.5 PPG (T-162nd)
• Last Game/Streak: 95-70 Win v. San Francisco State (2W)

The Skinny

After a dominating win to start the year over Southern Utah, Oregon State took a step back in their second game of the season against Wyoming.

The Beavers, whose offense took the headlines in game one, was severely hindered by a weak defensive showing that allowed three players on the Cowboys roster to score 16+ points in the contest, led by forward Hayden Dalton’s 22-point outing.

Oregon State head coach Wayne Tinkle summed the contest up with one sentence, “they are a very, very mature and experienced team, and we are not yet.”

Hopefully, the Beavers can find their “maturity” heading into game three against Long Beach State.

As most of Beaver Nation will remember, the 49ers accounted for one of Oregon State’s twenty-seven losses a season ago, when they used a late rally to stun the Beavers in the Dam City Classic in Portland. Not only will the Beavers be hoping to exact their revenge on eleventh-year head coach Dan Monson’s squad, but they also could be trying to avoid giving the 49ers any momentum heading into next week’s Advocare Invitational, where a potential rematch between the teams could come to fruition.

Simply put, this is one of those games that could define the trajectory of Oregon State’s season going forward.

As with most of the teams that Monson has had at Long Beach State, the 49ers are an excitable offensive squad who once again, has more than option to rely on at the offensive end. The undersized forward duo of Barry Ogalue (17.5 PPG) and Gabe Levin (11.5 PPG) will likely test the interior combo of Tres Tinkle and Drew Eubanks all-night, while the 49ers back-court, led by Gonzaga transfer Bryan Alberts (13.5 PPG) and Jordan Griffin (12.0 PPG), is always on the verge of having a break-out performance.

For Oregon State to keep themselves above the .500 mark on the season, the Beavers will need a concentrated defensive effort, mixed with a more confident and up-tempo offensive attack to get the job done. If not, Wayne Tinkle and company could be headed into a match-up with a super-athletic and tough St. John’s team with only one win under their belt.

Players To Watch

Gabe Levin (SR - Forward): A double-double type 6’ 7” forward, Gabe Levin is the type of talent that has a tendency to give Oregon State trouble on the defensive side of things, just as Wyoming’s Hayden Dalton did in the Beavers’ last outing. Long Beach State has some bigs who will step away from the basket and force all five defenders to play cohesively, which is something Oregon State hasn’t done too well as of late. Levin could be the 49ers biggest match-up nightmare for the Beavers.

Barry Ogalue (SR - Forward): One of Long Beach State’s breakthrough talents so far in the early season, Barry Ogalue looks to be taking the leap in his second season for the 49ers, after averaging 5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game a season ago. While the sample size of two games is relatively small, Ogalue’s improved play is no doubt the key to the team’s perfect start. He’s currently averaging 17.5 points and 6 rebounds per contest.

Bryan Alberts (JR - Guard): A transfer from Gonzaga who never found a steady role for the Zags, Bryan Alberts was a surprise addition for the 49ers after the off-season departure of star guard Justin Bibbins (Utah). Able to now flourish as a legitimate piece of the 49ers equation, Alberts is coming off an 18-point showing against Division II San Francisco State, meaning the 6’ 5” guard’s confidence should be at an all-time high heading into a contest against the Beavers.

Game Info

• Date: Saturday, November 18th
• Time: 8:00 PM PT
• Location: Gill Coliseum (Corvallis, OR)
• Coverage: Pac-12 Networks