Long Beach State Men's Basketball will begin its 2026-27 season on November 2 when it travels to Salt Lake City to face Utah. The contest is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MT at the Huntsman Center and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Beach enters the season undergoing a significant rebuild, returning only three percent of the team's scoring from the 2025-26 campaign, during which the program posted a 10-22 record. Returning players include junior forward JJ Chaikovsky and guard Christian Jones, who missed 14 games due to injuries last season.
In a preseason exhibition, a shorthanded Long Beach State squad competed against San Diego State. While the Aztecs pulled away in the second half, Yohann Sissoko led the Beach with 14 points, and Brett Wright contributed 12 points off the bench.
The program has undergone several staffing changes, including the hiring of Ken Ammann as Associate Athletic Director of Basketball Strategy & Revenue, serving as General Manager for both Men's and Women's Basketball programs. Additionally, the coaching staff has expanded with the addition of Greg Howell, who joins returning assistants Anthony Santos and Phillip Scott. Jacob Eyman has been promoted to the program's first fourth assistant coach, with Cole Aubin joining the staff from UNLV.
Long Beach State has added 13 newcomers to the roster, including several players with Division I experience such as Kaleb Smith, Noah Amenhauser, Jack Payne, and Grgur Brcic. Other notable additions include French international Yohann Sissoko, Henry Lau, and McCaden Adams from Snow College. The program also features Jaden Tengan, Brett Wright, and JJ Gray as new additions.
The departure of freshman guard Gavin Sykes, who broke the program's freshman scoring record with 542 points last season, marks a significant change for the roster after his transfer to TCU.
The matchup against Utah begins a demanding schedule for Long Beach State, as the team will play six of its first seven games on the road. Following the Utah game, the Beach will face Montana State and UCLA on the road, followed by a three-game MTE in Miami against FIU, Arkansas State, and Southern Utah.
