Pacific Tiger #14 Isaac Jacks slams a putback from his teammate #6 Jayden Clayton with 17 minutes and 5 seconds left in the second half here at Alex g. Spanos Center. (Photo credit to Sports Radio Services Michael Villanueva)
By Michael Villanueva
STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific Tigers returned to the Alex G. Spanos Center for a non-conference matchup against Long Beach State. Tipoff was at 7 p.m. in Stockton – my hometown – making this a special night as I covered my first home sporting event.
One team looked to extend its early-season momentum, while the other opposing team just looked to get its first win under the bright lights in San Joaquin County. The Tigers relied on Elias Ralph after scoring 21 points in Pacific’s 78-77 loss to the Nevada Wolf Pack.
The starting lineup for the Pacific Tigers was: Justin Rochelin, Elias Ralph, Jaden Clayton, TJ Wainwright, and Isaac Jack. Leading the way in points per game is their senior forward, Elias Ralph, with 20.5, shooting 52% from the field.
Long Beach State started with: Isaiah Lewis, Leopold Levillain, Petar Majstorovic, Cole Farrel, and Gavin Sykes. Long Beach is still looking for its first win after being on the road for its first two games. With their most recent loss to Fresno State, 82-62.
The game began with intensity inside the Alex G. Spanos Center, with Pacific scoring first on a smooth mid-range jumper from Justin Rochelin to put the Tigers on the board. Long Beach State responded soon with a layup from Petar Majstorovic, setting an early back-and-forth pace.
The Beach made its presence known defensively, raising the intensity with upcourt man-to-man pressure and consistently pressuring Pacific’s guards on each inbound. Long Beach’s defensive intensity put the Tigers into challenging looks and contested shots, making it difficult for them to create a regular rhythm on offense.
Long Beach State led 15-11 with ten minutes left in the half, thanks in large part to Gavin Sykes, who scored 11 of the team’s 15 points in the first half. Sykes was also coming off the bench for Long Beach. Both teams shot less than 35% from the field and less than 16% from three-point range, but the few shots that fell early weighed heavily in what was shaping up to be a low-scoring, defensive first half.
Pacific’s shooting struggles continued throughout the first half. The Tigers went without a three-pointer until the last minute, shooting only 26.3% from the floor and 10% from beyond the arc while committing 11 turnovers against the Beach’s swarming defense. Long Beach’s length and athleticism blocked passing lanes, resulting in six steals, sparking transition opportunities and easy baskets.
Pacific finally broke through late with its first three-pointer of the night, but both teams struggled with cold shooting throughout — the Tigers went 1-for-9 from long, while Long Beach only converted one of six free throws.
Long Beach State led 30-25 at halftime. The Tigers were led by Elias Ralph, who had 7 points and 4 rebounds, while Long Beach was led by Shaquil Bender, who had 11 points and a steal, giving the Beach a small lead heading into the locker room.
Pacific came out of the break with renewed intensity on both ends of the floor. Forward Isaac Jack led the charge and quickly established his presence inside. Jack dominated the first three minutes of the half, grabbing rebounds and finishing through contact for six quick points.
Despite the Tigers’ strong start, Long Beach State responded with poise and precision. Gavin Sykes, who struggled in the first half, came alive in the early second half, scoring 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting (71.4%), including 3-of-4 from deep after missing his only three-pointer earlier. Sykes’ performance allowed the Beach to expand their lead and keep control of the game.
As the second half went on, Pacific began to ramp up the intensity, attempting a determined rally. The Tigers’ big men dominated the paint, crashing the boards and attacking the hoop, forcing Long Beach to foul and sending Pacific to the free-throw line, where they began to capitalize.
The Tigers’ improved aggression paid off on the glass as well, as they outrebounded the Beach 33-26, gaining additional possessions and creating more scoring opportunities. Their hustling and inside presence helped trim Long Beach’s lead to two points, anticipating a chaotic finish with momentum shifting toward Pacific with seven minutes left of the game.
The final minute of the game was heated, coming down to the last second. Gavin Sykes of Long Beach State was fouled on a three-point attempt and made a four-point play, cutting the Tigers’ lead to four points.
Pacific soon turned the ball over on the inbounds, allowing Long Beach to score a fast layup and narrow the game even further. On their following possession, the Tigers advanced the ball past half court and found Isaac Jack, who was fouled on a putback attempt. Jack hit one of two free throws to give Pacific a three-point lead.
Long Beach had a last chance for a fast three-pointer but was unable to get it in, securing the Tigers’ hard-fought victory. Despite a poor perimeter shooting performance, Pacific’s resilience, hustle, and determination in the paint drove the comeback. Long Beach had many players in double numbers, but it was unable to fend off the Tigers’ second-half surge.
Despite a difficult shooting night from beyond the arc, the Tigers found a way to win. Pacific shot 42.3% from the field and 15% from three, but their strength inside and on the boards carried the day. The Tigers scored 34 points in the paint, pulled down 42 boards, and added 31 points off the bench, showing that effort and inside scoring were crucial to their comeback.
Alexis Marmolejos led the way with 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting (57.1%), 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block, powering Pacific’s offense and defense. Isaac Jack scored 9 points and 4 rebounds in the paint, and Elias Ralph added 15 points and 9 rebounds to help secure the victory.
The Tigers will now turn their attention to the road, meeting Cal State University Fullerton (1-2) on November 15th, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., hoping to build on their grit and inside domination from this hard-fought victory.
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