Preview: UCSD travels to Long Beach State for Big West opener

UC San Diego (7-1, 0-0) vs. Long Beach State (2-7, 0-1)

When: 6 p.m., Saturday

Where: Financial Credit Union Pyramid, Long Beach

Streaming: ESPN+

Last time out: After a best-ever seven-game winning streak to open the season, UC San Diego suffered a 76-70 loss at Nevada on Tuesday night. The Tritons shot a season-low 40.6% (28 for 69) from the floor and were only 6 for 23 from 3-point range. The Tritons twice held one-point leads in the second half and pulled to within two at 72-70 with 10 seconds to go on a Tom Beattie layup. Leo Beath again led UCSD with 17 points. Emanuel Prospere II scored 12 points and Beattie had 11.

Series history: The all-time series is tied, 4-4.

Tritons notes: UCSD opens defense of its Big West title against The Beach. The Tritons defeated Long Beach State twice last season — 80-54 at the Pyramid, then 70-63 at home in the game that clinched the Big West title for the Tritons. Beath, a junior transfer from Lynn University, is averaging 19.5 points a game while shooting 58% from the floor and 50% from 3-point range. Beath was named the National Mid-Major Player of the Week for Nov. 24-30. Beattie is averaging 13.0 points and a team-leading 5.4 rebounds a game. Aidan Burke is averaging 10.6 points a game.

The Beach Notes: Long Beach State lost its Big West opener 84-77 at UC Santa Barbara on Thursday night after defeating USD 76-72 at the Pyramid last Sunday. Gavin Sykes scored 30 points against USD and leads The Beach in scoring at 15.8 points per game. Petar Majstorovic is averaging 12.6 points and a team-leading 6.1 rebounds a game.

BILL CENTER