Cal State Bakersfield vs Long Beach State: Roadrunners Edge Beach 87-88 in Tight Big West Battle
We witnessed a nail-biter in the Big West Conference last night. Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners fell just short to Long Beach State Beach, 87-88, on February 28, 2026, at Icardo Center. Despite the one-point defeat, this Cal State Bakersfield vs Long Beach State clash showcased grit from both squads amid tough seasons. Long Beach State snapped a 10-game skid, while Bakersfield extended its nation-leading 13-game losing streak.
Gavin Sykes erupted for the Beach with 39 points on 14-of-21 shooting. He added five rebounds in 40 minutes. Petar Majstorovic chipped in 12 points and seven boards. Rob Diaz III scored 10 efficiently on 4-of-5 field goals.
Key Player Stats
Bakersfield’s Ron Jessamy battled back fiercely. He posted 33 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals in 39 minutes. CJ Hardy dazzled with 19 points, six assists, and five steals. Tom Mark added 17 points and two steals.
| Player | Team | PTS | REB | AST | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gavin Sykes | LBSU | 39 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Jessamy | CSUB | 33 | 11 | 1 | 3 |
| CJ Hardy | CSUB | 19 | 0 | 6 | 5 |
| Petar Majstorovic | LBSU | 12 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| Tom Mark | CSUB | 17 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
Game Highlights
The first half ended tight at 44-43 for Long Beach State. Bakersfield rallied in the second, outscoring 44-44, but fell short. Free throws proved crucial: LBSU hit 30-of-44 (68%), CSUB 30-of-44 (68%). Field goals favored Beach at 27-of-51, while the Roadrunners’ efficiency push favored the Roadrunners.
Final seconds sealed it. CJ Hardy missed a 25-foot three at 0:03. Sykes’ layup at 0:07 and rebound clinched the win.
Team Records
Long Beach State improved to 9-21 overall, 5-13 in Big West. They ended their skid dramatically. Cal State Bakersfield dropped to 8-22, 2-16 conference. Their 13 losses tie for fourth-worst nationally.
This loss stings for Bakersfield’s playoff hopes. Yet Jessamy’s double-double signals a fight. Long Beach State gains momentum. We expect more fireworks in Big West play.
