The Gonzaga men's basketball team is gearing up for a crucial nonconference matchup as Long Beach State arrives at the McCarthey Athletic Center on Wednesday. With a 4-0 record and a rise to the No. 3 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll following an impressive win at San Diego State, the Bulldogs are looking to continue their winning streak.

Key Players and Their Performances

Graham Ike and Ryan Nembhard have been instrumental in the team's success. In the recent game against San Diego State, they tamed the Viejas Arena crowd down the stretch, combining to score 32 of the team's 40 points in the second half. Ike and redshirt sophomore Braden Huff each lead the Zags at 14.5 points per game. Three other Bulldogs average more than 11.5 points: Khalif Battle (14.3), Nembhard (12.8), and Nolan Hickman (11.5). The Bulldogs' offensive efficiency is top-notch, ranking No. 1 in the country per KenPom.com.The Beach (1-3), on the other hand, has been struggling. They have dropped three in a row and back-to-back games to West Coast Conference teams since their season opener win over La Verne. In their recent games, four players scored in double-figures against the Pilots, led by Ramel Lloyd Jr. and Cam Denson at 15 points each. Devin Askew added 10 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. The 6-foot-5 senior and former No. 1 point guard in the 2021 recruiting class currently leads the Beach with 17.3 points and 5.5 assists per game.Long Beach State returned three players from last season's NCAA Tournament team, which was coached by former Gonzaga head coach Dan Monson and is now led by former San Diego State assistant Chris Acker. With six Division-I transfers, three junior college transfers, and three high school recruits, the team is looking to make an impact in the 2024-25 season. Despite having less than 5% of its scoring back from 2023-24, the Beach was picked to finish eighth in the Big West Conference preseason poll.After Wednesday's game, the Zags will head down to Paradise Island, The Bahamas, for the Battle 4 Atlantis multi-team event. They take on West Virginia in the first round game on November 27 at 11:30 a.m.

How to Watch Gonzaga vs. Long Beach State

Who: Gonzaga welcomes Long Beach State to Spokane for a nonconference game.When: 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. EST | Wednesday, Nov. 20.Where: McCarthey Athletic Center.TV: KHQ/ESPN+ (FOX13+ for Seattle area).Betting: Gonzaga -33.5 (-110); O/U 151.5 (-106).Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

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