Update: Tonight’s game is postponed again due to COVID-19 issues in the Long Beach State program.

Tonight, the UCLA Bruins will host the Long Beach State 49ers. The teams were originally scheduled to play in the Bruins’ home opener, but it was postponed until tonight due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Long Beach State program.

The last meeting between these teams was last season and Long Beach State gave the Bruins a tough fight. The 49ers were ahead by five points with about five minutes to go, but UCLA came back to win, using a 10-2 run to earn a 69-65 victory.

Long Beach State returns most of their team from last season, including their core three of Michael Carter III, Romelle Mansel and Chance Hunter. Last season, Hunter led LBSU in scoring with 13.9 points per game and in rebounding with an average of 5.0 rebounds per game but, so far this season, Long Beach State is being lead by senior guard Isaiah Washington. Washington is averaging 16.0 points per game while Hunter has seen his scoring average drop to just 11.7 points per game, but he is again leading the team in rebounding with an average of 7.3 per game.

Mansel is a close second in rebounding with an average of 7.0 per game, but he’s the worst scorer among 49er starters, averaging just 4.7 points per game.

Last year, Carter was the team’s second-leading scorer with an average of 12.4 points per game. This season, he has increased his production to 14.3 points per game.

The fifth starter for coach Dan Monson should be junior forward Joe Hampton. Hampton is the fourth starter for Long Beach State to average in double figures with 10.0 points per game.

Overall, I expect tonight’s game to be a tough one, but one that UCLA should ultimately win.

Here’s how to watch, listen and stream tonight’s game.

UCLA Men’s Basketball (5-1, 1-0)

• Opponent: Long Beach State 49ers (1-2)

• Series Record: UCLA leads, 17-1

• When: 6:00 pm PT, Tuesday, December 15, 2020

• Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA

• TV: Pac-12 Network National and Los Angeles with J.B. Long and Casey Jacobsen

• Live Stream: Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app

• Radio/Audio:
  AM 570 in Los Angeles with Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray
  Satellite Radio: SiriusXM Ch. 373
  And, of course, here in The Mighty Bruin Game Thread!

• Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast

• Game Notes:
  UCLA
  Long Beach State

Go Bruins!

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