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BusinEss
NASAI RIVAS/Long Beach Current Senior Richie Marroquin, 27, psychology major, volunteers for the Long Beach Community Table on Friday by picking grapes for people in need of food. Food banks like the Community Table are helping people affected by the SNAP cuts.
Walter Pyramid in talks to be renamed under new sponsorship deal
BY TIMOTHY HESSEN AND DANTE ESTRADA Sports Editor and Multimedia Managing Editor
Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid is potentially being renamed to LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid under a new sponsorship deal.
The naming rights deal comes from a 12-year, $8.5 million agreement from LBS Financial Credit Union.
Mike and Arline Walter, who donated the funds to name the Pyramid in 2005, agreed to step back from the naming of the venue.
Hosting several LBSU athletic programs such as the reigning national champions in men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball and both basketball programs, the Pyramid has been a staple of The Beach’s athletic department since 1994.
While the Pyramid has endured a storied legacy of over three decades, the facility has shown its age in recent years.
In 2023, a study estimated the potential costs of repairs to the building’s roof to be $55 million.
The crucial problem facing the facility’s infrastructure is its roof's susceptibility to leaks during rainy weather, which has forced games to be moved to the Gold Mine, the school’s previous gym located in the kinesiology building.
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"We have been proud to support Beach Athletics and other university programs for more than thirty years and recognize this opportunity to amplify our impact,” said Mike Walter, former dean of the College of Business and currently dean emeritus, in a press release. “Our fundamental interest has always been to support both athletics and the academic efforts of this university.”
land acknowlEdgmEnt
According to a press release issued by the university, the sponsorship deal will primarily fund LBSU Athletics through scholarship support and “programmatic costs and capital improvements.
The decision to rename the venue is set to be made at the upcoming CSU Board of Trustees meetings scheduled from Nov. 17 to 19.
Here at the Long Beach Current we acknowledge that the school we report on is located on the sacred site of Puvungna, “the gathering place.” We are on the land of the Tongva/Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here.
We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Tongva (pronounced: GABRIEL-EN-YO/TONG – VAH) and Acjachamen/Juaneño (pronounced: AH-HACH-AH-MEN/JUAN-EN-YO) as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash (pronounced: CHOO-MOSH) to the north and west, and the Tataviam (pronounced: TAH-TAH-VEE-YUM) and Cahuilla (pronounced: KAH-WEE-YAH) Nations to the east.
We respect and value the many ways the Tongva/Acjachemen cultural heritage and beliefs continue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relationship that has always existed here at what we now call California State University Long Beach.
Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinions of the Long Beach Current are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Long Beach Current.
lEttEr Policy: All letters and emails must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Long Beach Current reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.
Campus celebration kicks off Native American Heritage Month
BY DUPREE DE LA PENA
Contributor
Students and faculty launched Native American Heritage Month with cultural dances, basket weaving and traditional music at the Speaker’s Platform on Nov. 4.
The kickoff was part of a series of November events Long Beach State is organizing to celebrate the rich cultures of Native and Indigenous communities.
Program director of American Indian Studies, Theresa Gregor said the celebration was in the spirit of recognition, respect, reciprocity and resurgence. She said these are principles that guide their responsibility to each
other and to the land that supports them.
The event continued with music and cultural dances. Many students participated in dances, displaying unity between the dancers and the community.
Attendees also participated in handson basket weaving, a nod to the Native American basket history that spans thousands of years.
“We support the American Indian Student Council by making their presence on campus visible,” Gregor said.
The event was hosted by the American Indian Student Council, Puvungna Resource Center, Beach Pride Events and the Office of Belonging and Inclusion.
Mia Nuñez, a third-year kinesiology major and president of the American Indian Student Council, said the council
is a cultural organization that gives space to Native Americans, as well as Indigenous students.
“We have a less than 1% population on campus; the rate of Native students going into universities is low,” Nuñez said. “We want students to know that there’s open and safe spaces on higher education campuses, so they feel comfortable applying themselves in getting graduation rates up.”
Nuñez said it’s time for these communities to focus on helping Indigenous students feel comfortable in careers they are capable of achieving.
D’Andre Garmon, a second-year psychology major, said he came to the event to learn about other cultural traditions.
“I'm a part of the Men’s Success Initiative; we just really try to make sure
that we come out and we support each of the different cultural heritage months and different events that they have,” Garmon said. “We hear about settler colonialism, but here we actually learn their history, not just the history that people want to tell us about.”
Native American programs and resources on campus include:
• American Indian Faculty & Staff Association
• American Indian Student Council
• Office of Tribal Relations
• Puvungna Resource Center There will be three more events celebrating Native American Heritage Month on campus: a Puvungna Fall Celebration on Nov. 15, a Pow Wow dance workshop on Nov. 19, and a movie night on Nov. 20.
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO/Long Beach Current
Shiigo Biiliilitso Navajo a CSULB alumnus ‘21, danced the Men’s Prairie Chicken during the "Native American Heritage Month Kickoff" event on Nov. 4.
Long Beach State students, campus resources, brace for SNAP benefits shortage
BY ETHAN BROWN News Assistant
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a fundamental resource that provides food stamps to 42 million Americans, has ceased dispersal since the government first shut down on Oct. 1.
On Monday, Nov. 3, President Trump told a Rhode Island federal judge he plans to restore 50% of the normal amount of SNAP benefits by tapping into billions of dollars in contingency funds.
In response to a court order against him for withholding SNAP benefits, Trump opted for partial funding in the form of using the $4.65 billion left in the Congress-appropriated SNAP fund.
Since it is unclear when the benefits will begin to be paid out by individual states, students at Long Beach State are nervously awaiting the assistance they signed up to receive.
“The SNAP delays will significantly worsen food insecurity among college students,” said Danielle Muñoz-Channel, director of Basic Needs and Crisis Assistance & Resource Education Support at CSULB. “[It is] forcing many to choose between buying food and paying for educational costs, which can negatively impact their health and academic success.”
SNAP benefits are especially important for students like third-year accounting major Jay Pham, who was homeless from October 2024 until September 2025, using her EBT card to feed herself and her siblings.
Due to her lack of a physical address, Pham struggled to apply for SNAP until mid-2025 since SNAP’s primary form of contact is through the mail.
“Receiving SNAP benefits gave me a lot of relief knowing that if nothing else, I at least would get to eat,” Pham said. Her food security proved to be shortlived.
Pham, who works 35 hours a week, expressed concern about needing to ration the benefits left on her EBT card should the shutdown go beyond the end of November.
“If this shutdown goes beyond that, I don’t know where I’ll get money for me and my siblings to eat,” she said. “That
uncertainty, on top of everything else, leaves me extremely stressed.”
The Basic Needs program at CSULB is located in Room 127 on the first floor of Peterson Hall and welcomes all students who need access to essential resources.
CalFresh recipients whose SNAP benefits are delayed can visit Basic Needs and receive meal swipes for the school dining hall, with documentation required.
“These delays exacerbate the challenges students already face with complex eligibility rules and high costs of living,” Muñoz-Channel said. “Health and well-being [are] our priority in basic needs.”
Another on-campus resource is the Laurén Chalmers ‘83 Beach Pantry, located behind the Student Health Services building on the ground floor, displaced due to the University Student Union construction.
“Our goal is to support our students
as best as possible and supply foods that they can make a meal with,” Alison Curd, third-year nursing major and student assistant at the Beach Pantry, said. “Bring your own bag – all we need is your student ID number.”
The Beach Pantry relies on individual donations, but also receives supplies from food rescue nonprofits, including Food Finders, Student LunchBox and other major food banks.
The SNAP delay has brought new students into the Beach Pantry, prompting the staff to reach out to past donors with a sense of urgency that meets the current situation.
“We’re doing our best to really try to get the word out earlier,” Curd said. “Any potential local bakeries and supermarkets who might want to be involved, and are able to support.”
The Beach Pantry receives no demographic information on its visitors.
“When the Beach Pantry opened in 2016, we did not want to create a stigma where students coming in were revealed as more in need than their classmates,” Assistant Director of Beach Pantry Christina Limon said.
“Our initiative is to provide food for students, regardless of your background or what time you come to visit,” Curd said. “We are here for students on all ends of the food insecurity spectrum.”
The Beach Pantry is open for donations Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and donors can drop supplies off in parking lot G3. Calling ahead is appreciated.
“Approximately 4,000 students at CSULB could be impacted by SNAP delays,” Muñoz-Channel said. “We want every student to know we will continue to share as much information as we can about where students can go for help during this time.”
JORGE HERNANDEZ/Long Beach Current
Update caption: Beach Pantry volunteers sort papayas and various other produce items on Nov. 4. Ever since the Oct. 1 government shutdown, more students have been getting their food necessities from The Beach Pantry.
Convenience at a cost: Students battle high prices at Beach Shops
BY JOSHUA FLORES News Assistant
The convenience stores on campus offer on-the-go options, which Beach Shops strives to make as affordable as possible for students while still staying competitive in the market.
Beach Shops, which operates the convenience stores, is a nonprofit organization under a provision 503(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service. This means the organization is tax-exempt because it operates to provide a service, not for the benefit of private shareholders or individuals.
As a nonprofit, Beach Shops tries to keep prices down where it can, according to the chief business officer for Associated Students, Inc., Cyndi Farrington.
“Some prices are determined by the manufacturer or vendor, so for instance, our sushi line is the suggested retail price from our vendor that produces that,” Farrington said. “A lot of the other products we just try to price based on like, what is 7-Eleven charging, what’s the
average price of something?”
The Current spoke with students who use convenience stores on campus and gathered their thoughts on purchasing from Beach Shops.
“The only thing I’d expect is lower prices. It’s almost $3 for just one small thing like a bag of candy which is kind of strange, at least put it down to a dollar,” first-year anthropology major Steve Garcia said. “I could probably go down to 7-Eleven over here and get this stuff for less than a $1.25.”
When compared to 7-Eleven, items such as energy drinks have similar prices to the Beach Shops. However, 7-Eleven also features deals such as “buy one get one free” or “buy two for x amount” for some items, lowering the price in comparison to The Beach.
However, not everyone is able to leave campus to get a better deal and is compelled to spend money on campus even if there are cheaper alternatives.
“They’re a little bit more expensive. It should be the same price as anywhere else; it’s the school, they’re not supposed to get any profit,” second-year Spanish major Dulce Avalos said. “It’s not fair to students who can’t go somewhere else
determines prices based
the
Shops reinvests any earnings into their company or toward other campus efforts.
and they just want to go here but it’s more expensive; it’s not convenient for us students.”
With the cost of food anticipated to rise faster than the historical average, the prices students are paying are determined with the price of competitors in mind, but there are some restrictions.
“So for things that are more expensive, it’s typically gonna be because of a corporation like Target … they have more buying power than we do, so they’re getting better prices than we are,” Farrington said. “Well, we try to be as competitive as 7-Eleven, so we’ll have to do some research on that.”
Despite the university making attempts to keep costs low and fair for students, students have voiced dismay at the prices of convenience stores on campus.
“I’ve noticed everything is about a dollar more,” third-year business management major Isaiah Morse said. “Price reductions, wholesale purchasing, I don’t know what they’re getting at or their margins. Maybe student discounts because they’re not checking student IDs, but if they give us 10% off if we show our student ID, that could help.”
Since Beach Shops is a nonprofit, any excess money it earns from sales is reinvested back into the school, rather than going to private interests or shareholders.
EDDY CERMENO/Long Beach Current Long Beach State students walk in and out of a campus convenience store located next to the Bookstore on, Nov. 6.
JOSHUA FLORES/Long Beach Current Table chart depicting the price of select products at stores in comparison to one another. Beach Shops is a nonprofit corporation and
on
market. Beach
ARTS & LIFE
Students show pride at firstgeneration campus celebration
BY JOSH GENTLE
About a dozen Long Beach State student services tables were set up by the Speaker’s Platform outside of the Beach Shops Bookstore on Nov. 6 to celebrate first-generation students.
National First-Generation College Celebration Day is on Nov. 8th. The date commemorates the 1965 Higher Education Act, which sought to increase access to education for underrepresented students.
The event was dedicated to the celebration of first-generation students, but also an attempt to ensure their continued success. Organizations including TRiO Student Support Services, Basic Needs and GenExcel mentorship program lined the bustling walkways of upper campus.
The complimentary Subway sandwiches and drinks set out for attending students disappeared almost instantly,
and free t-shirts were passed out in copious amounts.
Brandi Pierre, academic skills coach at TRiO Student Support Services, described her first-generation experience as “being a trailblazer for the people before me, [and] an example for them to be able to see if I could do it, they can do it as well.”
TRiO Student Support Services is an organization at CSULB designed primarily for low-income, first-generation or disabled students to support their needs as they navigate higher education.
As a skills coach at TRiO, Pierre said her job allows her to give students the confidence to ask for help.
“We’re gonna want to help people have what’s called a sense of belonging,” she said.
Another table that garnered a continuous flow of interested students was Basic Needs.
Basic Needs seeks to support all students, with a primary focus on serving
first generation students who seek their assistance. Some of these services include food, financial and housing support, especially for students with children.
“Most [first-generation students] do suffer more in food insecurity,” Jiovanni Fernandez, CalFresh outreach assistor and third-year nursing major, said. “I suffered through food insecurity when I first came to school on campus.”
Basic Needs ties academic success to a stable home life and tries to alleviate the struggles that some students face that might hinder their educational pursuits.
Fernandez, a first-generation student, initially wanted to attend college to see through his parents’ dream of completing college. He felt a responsibility as their firstborn child.
“I think [being first-generation] means empowerment and [believing] we can do something,” he said.
The GenExcel mentorship program was present, promoting their services.
Designed specifically for first-generation college students, GenExcel matches students with student and faculty mentors based on background and personal interests to best fit their needs.
“They work a lot with Beach transfers, really anything within the Student Success Center,” said Cally Arrucha, first-generation mentor at GenExcel and third-year criminal justice student.
To Arrucha, being a first-generation student means making an impact in a community where people are underrepresented.
Her parents’ sacrifices for her siblings and her allowed her to attend college. She thinks of them when she forces herself to go to school on days she doesn’t want to.
JOSH GENTLE/Long Beach Current
Gio Pelico, third-year cinematic arts cinematography student poses with his free shirt outside one of the tables on Nov 6.
Contributor
Reel intelligence or real threat? CSULB filmmakers debate AI
BY ANGELINA FRATIANNI AND ISABELLA SIQUEIRA Contributors
“I’ll be back.”When Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the famous 1984 film “The Terminator” set out to assassinate Sarah Connor, viewers couldn’t fathom an Earth where human-like robots actually existed, let alone killed people.
But in 2025, as artificial intelligence enters a multitude of industries, robots and computer programs now exist that have the potential to “terminate” jobs.
“Everything I learned about AI, I learned from 2001 [A Space Odyssey] and Terminator,” said Long Beach State screenwriting professor Matt Montoya. “If humans are flawed, and humans have inherent flaws, nothing will be perfect, right? So you can’t rely on AI, which already has flaws in it.”
When the Terminator promised to “come back” in the ‘80s, no one could have predicted that the muscular killer cyborg’s promise to return held some real-world truth, or that it would come in the form of a budding young actress named Tilly Norwood.
Norwood is not a real human; rather, an AI-generated, photorealistic “actress” created by AI production company Particle6 and managed by AI talent studio Xicoia. Norwood is seen as an experimental next step in using AI to replace human actors.
In recent film classes, Montoya and his students discussed how Norwood poses a threat. While not “terminating” people, Norwood and other AI tools may begin to “terminate” jobs across the filmmaking industry.
The Cinematic Arts Department at CSULB is still learning how to integrate this new technology into its curriculum. While some instructors prohibit the use of AI in filmmaking, others are finding ways to educate students on how to eth-
ically use it. “Technology is a moving target; it’s always changing,” said Kent Hayward, a narrative production and experimental film instructor. “So you’re always learning something new.”
Hayward views AI’s entrance into the job market as something that was bound to happen and has always been happening. He understands AI to grow and evolve with before it surpasses humans.
“I always think about in the early days of motion pictures, or even in the early days of photography, people were like, ‘Oh man, the camera has come. Great. That’s going to put all of us portrait painters out of work,’ and it did,” Hayward said.
Third-year directing student Giana Maciel agrees there is no place for AI to comfortably fit into filmmaking without it entirely replacing careers.
“I think it takes away a lot of opportunities for people to do really good work,” Maciel said.
The integration of AI has been most evident in the editing profession, especially after two Oscar-winning films, “The Brutalist” and “Emilia Pérez,” were confirmed to have used AI to enhance the voices of the main characters.
It is often cheaper to invest in an AI program instead of paying a human expert to do their job.
“It’s a business … if they can save money anywhere they can, they will,” Montoya said.
In screenwriting, AI has been integrated much less.
The Writers Guild of America went on strike in May 2023 in part due to the use of AI in screenwriting, with Montoya participating.
“Anything that comes from AI is not going to be a wholly original idea,” Montoya said. “I feel it cannot authentically duplicate their variety of diverse, unique
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO/Long Beach Current
The Department of Cinematic Arts uses video cameras such as this Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro.
perspectives, which is crucial to any artist developing their craft.”
Screenwriting, as a craft, relies on personal experiences and backgrounds of students and writers to help bring their stories to life.
In his class syllabus, Montoya states that AI relies on pre-existing work, therefore it is considered plagiarism.
“At the university level, this is when critical thinking skills actually grow the most,” Montoya said. “I want them to be able to find their way through a story or story problems naturally, rather than rely on a piece of technology that was developed by someone that has nothing to do with the creative arts.”
Hayward agrees that AI cannot replace human creation. However, he does recognize that it is a tool, and he encourages his students to learn how to use it properly and ethically.
In addition, Hayward is selective about where he chooses to integrate AI into his lessons. When he teaches about genuine creation and storytelling, he asks students to pull from their personal experiences, something he is confident AI simply will never be able to do.
When it comes to experimental filmmaking, Hayward allowed students to use AI as a tool for the sake of learning and to see what they could make of it. He was surprised to find that a majority of the students opted out, expressing concerns that the tool was unethical.
“I usually tell my students to demonstrate ethical choices and use their own
judgment,” Hayward said.
Maciel said that although she has not been prompted to use AI in her film classes, she would choose not to because she feels that there’s nothing AI can do that she can’t.
“I don’t think that there’s any advancement that’s been made that is worthy of my testing it out,” Maciel said.
Fourth-year directing student Jonah Greenebaum views AI as a mimic, something that can tirelessly attempt to create art. It will always be missing a real-life connection with imperfection, personality and emotion, he said.
Even though AI has not been integrated into Greenebaum’s curriculum as a fourth-year, it is being taught to firstyear students. In CINE 100, students are asked to produce a two-minute short film using AI tools.
“I’m unsure of how I feel about the integration, especially in the cinematography department because it’s so technical, and taking shortcuts just doesn’t seem like the right thing to do when you are trying to get a full understanding,” said James Mylenek, a first-year cinematic arts student in CINE 100. “I’m just hoping for a regulated use of it.”
Greenebaum, expressing his concern for the future of the job market, describes AI as just another existential fear on the bingo card. However, he doesn’t think AI will last.
“People want flawed things and that makes us human,” Greenebaum said.
ARTS & LIFE
PARTYING
Left: Isaac Quiroz, the singer for the band on Nov. 7. Above: Boygrim members, Seth songs throughout their set during the
Photos by REHANSA KULATILLEKE Long Beach Current
PARTYING FOR PAWS
CSULB marketing students host benefit concert for shelter pets
BY NI BALINESS Arts & Life Assistant
The American Marketing Association of Long Beach State hosted its annual benefit concert in support of the nonprofit organization WAGS Pet Adoption on Friday, Nov. 7.
With 331 chapters nationwide, the American Marketing Association of CSULB is ranked in the top 15 in the nation.
With programs such as studentled internships and student-to-student mentorship, the American Marketing Association has been successful in helping members bridge the gap between learning skills and applying them in the community.
For Lizbeth Ruano, fourth-year marketing major and director of Agency 241, demonstrating connections developed at AMA while helping WAGS is meaningful to her and the team.
“We want to support the pups always and forever, so it’s super exciting to execute this today,” Ruano said.
Through the event, Ruano hopes WAGS gets community support, not just through funding but through community exposure to the animalcentered nonprofit and the work they do.
Located in Westminster, WAGS Pet Adoption also serves Seal Beach and Stanton, where they take care of around 3,000 animals every year.
“We are a non-profit, so any resources we can get from the community monetary or otherwise is amazing,” Lisa Isbell, dog foster coordinator for WAGS, said.
Beyond funding, both Ruano and Isbell emphasized the importance of visibility and awareness. Being a small shelter, Isbell shared that many in the community don’t realize WAGS exists.
WAGS is a “high save shelter,” meaning that they don’t euthanize animals for the purposes of space.
for the event.
While working as a marketing and fan engagement intern for the CSULB athletics department, she saw a couple walking a German shepherd wearing an orange vest that read, “Adopt me.”
“We were searching high and wide for something that kind of felt right for us,” Chin said.
After speaking with the couple, she learned about different ways the community can engage with animal shelters, such as taking dogs out for the day or helping with shelter cleanups.
Chin has been planning the event since the summer and finally got to experience the end results of her hard work on Friday. While raising money was important, she felt the most joy in seeing the happy faces and support for the animals.
“To see how much help we can give them and the hope in their eyes is really nice to see,” Chin said.
After an energetic performance by the Glendale Dance Team and smooth guitar playing by Long Beach State student Aiden Banks, the band Boygrim had attendees anticipating their performance.
Fourth-year sociology major and singer Isaac Quiroz said he was ecstatic when asked to play at the event.
“We were just like ‘Dude, it’s Cal State Long Beach,’” Quiroz said. “I’ve always wanted to play here.”
As an owner of two cats, Quiroz has a soft spot for animals and said he couldn't pass up using his talent to support WAGS.
“I love animals, and to know that money from ticket sales is going to support that is a beautiful thing,” Quiroz said.
As the band played, attendees waved their hands high and jammed out to the music. At one point, a mosh pit formed for people to circle around.
Closing out their performance with the song Cemetery Letters, Boygrim left the night's crowd with an electrifying experience.
Boygrim performed some of their original songs near the end of the Benefit Concert at the Pointe Seth Taylor, Isaac Quiroz, Vincent Bombolo and Jack Friedberg performed their original Benefit Concert at the Pointe on Nov. 7.
“We need people in the community to come in and be willing to volunteer, foster dogs and cats so that we can continue working on that vision of saving every healthy animal,” Isbell said.
Third-year marketing major and AMA President Sabrina Chin smiled as she remembered how WAGS was ultimately chosen as a partner
Like many of the animal lovers present at the event, attendee Diego Diaz found the benefit concert to be important. As the owner of a “kind and outgoing” dog named Nacho, coming to the event was a no-brainer.
“It makes me feel good inside knowing that there’s opportunities for this to support and help dogs in need,” Diaz said.
ARTS & LIFE
Family-owned Thai food truck serves up fresh flavors
MARITSSA AGUILAR GARCIA/Long Beach Current A CSULB student waits to recieve his order from 8E8 Thai Street Food, a food truck known for serving authentic, made-to-order Thai dishes on campus on Oct. 28.
BY MONICA BADOLIAN AND MARITSSA AGUILAR Sports Assistant and Contributor
On a sunny afternoon at Long Beach State, the 8E8 Thai Street Food truck parked near the Outpost Grill looks to attract students seeking a freshly made meal between classes.
Founded in 2018 by Montre Liwirun, 8E8 Thai Street Food began with a simple goal: bring authentic, made-toorder Thai cuisine to the streets of Los Angeles.
Before launching 8E8, Montre Liwirun gained experience working for another Thai food truck, White Guy Pad Thai. His son, Nachanon Liwirun, who helps operate the family business, said that early experience taught his father an important lesson.
“The truck [Montre] worked for wasn’t doing great, but after spending time there, he saw what worked and what didn’t," Nachanon Liwirun said. "That’s when he decided to start his own and it took off.”
The Liwiruns first found success serving students at UCLA before driving
and parking closer to the shore. What started as one truck has grown into three separate trucks, each serving college campuses and events throughout Southern California.
After seeing how well Thai food resonated with college crowds, the family decided to branch out to CSULB.
“We tried coming to different campuses to see what worked," Nachanon Liwirun said. "When we came to Long Beach, it was a great fit; we’ve kept coming back ever since.”
The truck’s presence on campus is more than just convenience; it’s also an example of how mobile food vendors adapt to different communities. With three trucks rotating through Los Angeles, Orange County and other local areas, 8E8’s schedule changes weekly based on demand and opportunity.
“Since we’re a food truck, we can mix and match our schedules whenever,” Nachanon Liwirun said. “It depends on which locations want us and what dates we have open. When it lines up, we just add it to the calendar.”
Over the years, 8E8 has found itself catering to some famous faces, from John Legend at Thai Fest in Santa Monica to Margot Robbie at a private Hollywood party.
For the Liwiruns, moments like
those are always surreal but grounding reminders of how food connects everyone.
“They’re just normal people who happen to be famous,” Nachanon Liwirun said. “It’s always cool, though; definitely better than working in a kitchen.”
However, running a mobile restaurant isn’t without its challenges.
“Recently, prices for ingredients have gone up, like coconut milk, which used to cost us $50 a case and now it’s around $70,” Nachanon Liwirun said. “We’ve had to increase prices a little just to keep up.”
These prices can affect how attractive the food trucks are to on-campus and hungry students.
“The prices on campus are too expensive, but that’s not the vendor’s fault,” Clare Duquette, a third-year environmental science and policy major, said. “I work at a restaurant, and we’ve had to raise prices too, because bulk ingredients cost more now. I don’t fault the food trucks — I blame the economy.”
From unpredictable weather to inconsistent ingredient costs, the Liwiruns have learned to constantly adjust to keep their business running smoothly.
“We prep everything we can, cutting
vegetables and meat, but once someone orders, we turn on the wok and make it right there on the spot,” Nachanon Liwirun said. “ Other trucks pre-make 200 orders, but we like to do it the hard way.”
For many students, grabbing lunch from an on-campus vendor is a matter of convenience.
Jenny Hess, a second-year mechanical engineering student, agreed that while the food options are available, affordability and scheduling remain issues.
“I think they’re a little pricey, but that’s all we have, so we have to just eat what we can,” Hess said. “I try to leave class a little earlier so I can make it before they close at 2 [p.m.].”
Despite broader issues, for Nachanon Liwirun, the best part of the job is seeing students’ reactions.
“One of the coolest parts about being in a food truck is driving onto campus and seeing people excited to eat your food,” Nachanon Liwirun said. “Sometimes we park near the gardens or in places regular cars can’t go, and it’s fun to be part of that energy.”
Hours and location for each food truck vendor may vary. Students can check the most up-to-date schedule at Curbside Bites.
ARTS & LIFE
JOSEPH LEE/Long Beach Current
CSULB alum Joaquin Alonzo holds up the two "backlogs" he brought to ASI's "Build & Chill: Gundam" event – High Grade Gundam model kits gMS-Ω GQuuuuuuX (left) and gMS-α Red Gundam (right) on Nov. 6.
Assembling a Gundam at The Beach
BY JOSEPH LEE Contributor
Over 100 eager Long Beach State students wrapped around the entrance of Peterson Hall on Nov. 6, spilling out from the hallway to the steps, leading into the walkway.
The line was for the Associated Students, Inc. Beach Pride “Build & Chill: Gundam” event, which featured giveaways of plastic model kits for students to build Gundam figures, eat snacks and mingle in an open space.
Gundam, the immensely popular mecha anime, is a staple of its genre of giant robots, from its anime series to its model figures.
Along with the giveaway, the event also featured an opportunity drawing, offering students who signed in a chance to win another model kit, regardless of whether they had received one already.
Students who RSVP'd signaled first
dibs on the coveted Gunpla model kits.
Within the first 20 minutes of the event, the 56 model kits whittled down to a few, leaving only those in the front of the non-RSVP line, some of whom had waited nearly an hour, with a chance to receive one.
Upon receiving a kit, students were invited to sit and build in the hall as a continuous montage of scenes from various Gundam series were projected on a screen.
Students lucky enough to receive a kit were treated to an Entry Grade RX78-2 Gundam kit, the main mobile suit featured in the 1979 original “Mobile Suit Gundam” series.
Even luckier than the 56 students who received an entry grade kit was fifth-year French international student Prosper Wang, who won the opportunity drawing and a High Grade XVX-016 Gundam Aerial kit.
“The person in front of me [in line] got the last [RX-78-2] kit, so I went in there and I was like, ‘Man, I must be so
unlucky today,’” Wang said.
Joseph Bass, a third-year business marketing major and event coordinator for Beach Pride Events, had been working on organizing the event since February 2024, as a personal love letter to his anime hobby.
“What really inspired me to do this event is my own personal enjoyment of building these kits,” Bass said. “It was something I wanted to bring to campus. By hosting events like this, we can make the hobby more affordable and accessible for students.”
To compensate for the limited amount of kits, event advertising also encouraged students to bring their own kits to build. While not many listened, at least one did.
CSULB alum Joaquin Alonzo’s enthusiasm for Gunpla was evident as he attentively assembled his High Grade gMS-Ω GQuuuuuuX (pronounced G Kwux) Gundam model.
Despite having graduated from CSULB, Alonzo wouldn’t let that
stop him from connecting with other Gundam fans to express his admiration for one of his favorite hobbies.
Both of the kits Alonzo brought were high-grade and more expensive than the ones given away.
“There are multiple levels [to Gunpla kits],” Alonzo said. “Like the ones they [were giving out today] were Entry Grade, so it’s like baby steps in a way. You just snap it off and put it together. If people are more interested [like me], they could pick up High Grade [kits], which is [still] beginner-friendly.”
Alonzo hopes for additional Gundam events in the future.
“You don’t really see geeky stuff like this, so I was really impressed," Alonzo said. "Seeing the Gundam thing, I’m like, OK, that’d be cool if they [continued to] gear more towards the anime [community] here. Hopefully, this is the first step [towards] something much bigger.”
Yoichi Terada contributed to this story.
ARTS & LIFE
Images provided by THE CARPENTER CENTER
A candid stage shot of the mixed media musical group, Live from Laurel Canyon, as they perform their Lennon & Nilsson, Lost Weekend show. The band features musician Brian Chartrand on lead, along with guitarist Otto D’Agnolo and a full band.
BY DELFINO CAMACHO Arts & Life Editor
The Carpenter Performing Arts Center is turning up the volume on variety as they offer students the chance to watch a range of shows from ballet to cabaret, story-driven concerts and jazz – all without breaking the bank.
Franz Neumann, Communications and Content Specialist for the Carpenter Center, said student discounts have been limited in the past.
“Thanks to the donations that we get to the center, we’re opening up student pricing on all of our season shows this season,” Neumann said. “You can see anything in our season, and it’s $25 and you can get up to two tickets.”
Students must present their student ID at the door and use the promo code HOTTIX at checkout on carpenterarts. org for the discount to be applied.
1) Melissa Errico: The Streisand Effect
Wednesday – Thursday, Nov. 12–13
Time: 7 p.m. | Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
Tony-nominated singer and actress Melissa Errico takes the Carpenter Center’s cozy cabaret stage, performing songs from Barbra Streisand’s legendary catalog. She’s joined by Randy Waldman, Streisand’s longtime pianist, and a small band for two nights of up-close music.
$25 student Carpenter Center tickets continue through slate of November shows
Different from standard performances, this show is a cabaret stage performance featuring a smaller stage that the audience sits around, leading to a more intimate performance.
“You see everything, you hear everything, in addition, there’s a bar there so you can get drinks, and if you pre-order when you purchase tickets, you can also add a meal, so you can dine before the show and then watch the show after eating,” Neumann said.
Tickets: $58.75 - $68.75 | Student discount: $25
2) An Evening with Baratunde Thurston
Saturday, Nov. 15
Time: 8 p.m. | Doors open: 7:30 p.m.
Emmy-nominated host and comedian Baratunde Thurston brings humor and insight to the stage, exploring technology, AI, and our impact on the environment around us.
Drawing on his experiences and knowledge gained from his PBS series “America Outdoors,” podcast “Life With Machines” and bestselling memoir “How to Be Black” attendees can expect more than a standard stand-up routine.
“He’s not just a comedian … he brings comedy to everything he does. He worked at The Onion and The Daily Show,” Neumann said.
The evening will also include a Q&A session with Thurston.
still promoting the
Tickets: $43.75 - $63.75 | Student discount: $25
3) Symphonic Jazz Orchestra with Terri Lyne Carrington
Sunday, Nov. 16
Time: 5 p.m. | Doors open: 4:30 p.m.
The 68-member Symphonic Jazz Orchestra blends classical and jazz styles, featuring Grammy-winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and jazz violinist Meg Okura in a world premiere.
“This show is with the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra… they play music that’s sort of at the intersection between classi-
cal and jazz,” Neumann said. “Terri Lyne Carrington, has four Grammys, she’s an incredible artist.”
The $15 community concert is open to everyone and is supported by donations to the Arts for Life program, which provides arts education in local schools.
Tickets: $15 | No student code is needed
The Carpenter Performing Arts Center is located at 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach, CA 90815. Tickets can be purchased at the Carpenter Center Tickets site.
Read the full story at lbcurrent.com.
A publicity
San Francisco-based dance group, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, which is set to perform at the CSULB Carpenter Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Nov. 8.
How Apple could make the switch to console gaming
DANTE ESTRADA/Long Beach Current
After five years of developing their own computer processors, Apple has the hardware capability to create a modern video game console. To bring proper competition to the console market, Apple has to change company policies and decision-making when it comes to having video games on their platform.
BY EDDY CERMENO
Photo Assistant
As Apple continues to improve and release new custom processors for its devices each year, it should invest more in video gaming.
With a dedicated gaming console, Apple can bring more video games from developers to its platforms.
The most console-like product Apple makes is the Apple TV streaming device.
If Apple were to upgrade its current Apple TV device with a more powerful processor, it would be capable of handling graphics-intensive games sold on other consoles.
Apple TV allows people to stream movies, shows and play games on their TV through the Apple Arcade
subscription service.
It also allows users to connect thirdparty video game controllers to use for games.
This device set up in your home is similar to having other consoles in the video game industry connected to your TV.
Popular video game consoles sold in 2025 are the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X.
Although with Apple Arcade, there are games that seem to be made to play on your iPhone or iPad instead of a TV.
The processor inside the current Apple TV being sold is the A15, which was first used in iPhones in 2021.
Upgrading the Apple TV with Apple’s latest processors would give the device the power to play popular video games typically played on other consoles.
The latest M4 and M5 series processors for Apple devices have enough power to run graphics-intensive video games from leading developers.
In benchmark tests done by Tom’s Guide, games such as the “Resident Evil” series and “Cyberpunk 2077” can be played on MacBooks with the latest Apple processors.
Those are some examples of games optimized by video game developers to run on Apple processors.
Apple would have to cooperate with large video game publishers and developers to bring their games to its platform.
Through the App Store and Apple Arcade, Apple takes a 30% fee from developers to have their applications and games on the store.
This fee deters many developers and publishers from publishing their games on the Apple platform.
Apple needs to make similar agreements other companies in the video game industry have with developers to increase the number of games available on its own devices.
With a dedicated gaming console,
more video game developers would see that Apple is serious in investing in the industry and porting games to their ecosystem.
One advantage Apple has over other hardware companies is its ecosystem.
Consumers have seamless experiences across their Apple devices with software such as iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Arcade and more.
Having an upgraded Apple TV to be more “console-like” would be the first step through a doorway for more games from popular developers to enter the Apple ecosystem.
People can play games on their TV with the device, and when they want, move over to their other devices with a seamless transition because of the control Apple has with its hardware and software connection.
This advantage from Apple would bring a unique aspect to the video game console market that other companies struggle to match.
Star attacker carries on family legacy for LBSU men's water polo
BY ALAN IBARRA Sports Assistant
For two generations now, a Francisco has dominated the pools at Long Beach State.
Star attacker Caleb Francisco's family ties to The Beach can be traced back nearly 40 years, when his father, Joel Francisco, was a critical piece for the program from 1986 to 1988, most notably helping lead LBSU to the NCAA consolation semi-finals in 1988.
The oldest of three brothers who have all followed in their father's footsteps in pursuing water polo, the 21-year-old has emerged as a star in his junior season for nationally-ranked No. 9 LBSU.
“That was definitely a big motive, carrying on his legacy,” Caleb Francisco
said of his decision to come to The Beach.
Sitting in seventh in the Big West in goals scored this season with 53, Caleb Francisco's breakout season has given The Beach the most fearsome scoring duo in the conference between him and sophomore center and reigning Big West Player of the Year Gabi Acosta.
The star player put up his most prolific game this season, scoring eight goals in a loss against No. 5 Fordham, tying the program's single-game scoring record.
Raised in a family of athletes, with his father being a collegiate water polo player and a basketball scout, Caleb Francisco played multiple sports growing up.
However, at the age of 12, he began to pursue water polo more than other sports he had previously played.
“My little brother was doing it, and that's my dad’s sport,” Caleb Francisco said. “I really look up to my
dad, so that was the big reason why I chose water polo.”
Surrounded by the world of sports at an early age, Caleb Francisco's upbringing fleshed out his personality as an athlete.
“I’ve always been a super passionate, emotional player when I started playing every sport," he said.
Despite his talents in the pool, the athlete recognizes how his immense passion for the game can sometimes limit his own potential.
“I didn’t really have that discipline or patience, and that was something that I really needed to learn as I went to college,” he said.
Caleb Francisco credits his teammates and LBSU head coach and USA Water Polo Hall of Famer Gavin Arroyo for his development as a player, particularly with his improved shot selection.
“We knew he had a golden arm coming out of high school,” Arroyo said.
“We need him for this team, and he’s the one that we wanted to bring over to Long Beach.”
Caleb Francisco and his two younger brothers are keeping the family legacy alive.
While the youngest brother, Curren Francisco, is a freshman for Newport Harbor High School water polo, his older brothers Caleb and Cole Francisco currently star for rival programs in the Big West.
From Oct. 22 to Oct. 29, the Big West Player of the Week award remained in the Francisco family's possession, as Cole Francisco took home the award for UC Irvine while Caleb Francisco earned the accolade for scoring 11 goals in a 3-0 undefeated week for The Beach.
Currently sitting atop the Big West standings, Caleb Francisco and The Beach will look to repeat as conference champions this season, with the tournament beginning on Nov. 21.
REHANSA KULATILLEKE/Long Beach Current
LBSU junior and star attacker Caleb Francisco ranks sixth in the Big West with 51 goals scored this season for No. 9 Long Beach State.
LBSU dominates UC Davis, captures Big West regular season title
BY BRANDON DYVIG
Contributor
No. 9 Long Beach State men’s water polo dominated conference rival No. 8 UC Davis 11-4 in a battle for the regular season title in the Big West on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Long Beach City College Aquatics Center.
With the win, LBSU (15-8) finished conference play with a perfect 5-0 record and secured the first seed in the Big West Tournament, starting on Nov. 21.
LBSU had an all-around balanced performance in the match with eight different scorers, and no player with more than two goals.
The Beach outplayed the Aggies (12-12) on both sides with a shooting percentage of .478, and held the Aggies to a .133 shooting percentage.
“We’re aspiring to play our best water polo,” LBSU head coach Gavin Arroyo said. “As we’re getting closer to the end of the season, for us to get a win like today, that’s really important for morale.”
Sophomore goalie Joe Jenness rounded out The Beach’s defensive performance with 12 saves.
“Towards the beginning of the season, we knew we had the guys to beat this team 11-4,” Jenness said. “Now that we’ve all been working together and on the same page, it’s been easy for us.”
The Beach set the tone early with a 4-1 lead in the first period.
LBSU junior attacker Caleb Francisco opened the scoring for The Beach at the 6:18 mark, assisted by sophomore utility Artur Diaz.
Francisco’s second goal of the game gave The Beach a 2-0 lead.
Sophomore attacker Konstantinos Kapragkos and senior attacker Sandro Pueyo Caballero added two more goals for LBSU on penalty shots.
However, UC Davis scored three unanswered goals at the beginning of the second period to cut the lead to 4-3.
The Beach fired back with three unanswered goals of their own from senior center Alec Johnson, sophomore center and reigning Big West Player of the Year Gabi Acosta and graduate defender Jason O'Donnell to extend the lead to 7-3 at halftime.
Aggies sophomore utility Mateo Ruano struck first in the third period, assisted by junior attacker Timothy Kerr to cut the lead to 7-4.
Answering right back, LBSU sophomore attacker Oliver Sudar found
REHANSA KULATILLEKE/Long Beach Current
LBSU graduate defender Jason O'Donnell extends out of the pool to take the shot in The Beach's 11-4 victory over UC Davis at the LBCC Aquatics Center on Saturday, Nov. 8.
Acosta in front of the net with a perfectly placed pass from the right corner for another LBSU goal, tallying yet another score to Acosta’s tally of 61 goals on the season.
With just one game remaining to the regular season, Acosta only trails Cal State Fullerton junior utility Andrew Barnuevo with 62 for the conference lead.
“[Sudar] is a really good lefty that passes me a lot of balls and look a lot for me,” Acosta said. “He is a really amazing player.”
The Beach went on a 3-0 run to extend the lead to 10-4 before the end of
the third period, powered by goals from sophomore center Corbin Stanley and O’Donnell’s second strike of the game.
Sophomore attacker Harper Stewart added The Beach’s final goal in the fourth period, assisted by Francisco, shutting the door on the Aggies in an 11-4 victory.
With the win to secure first seed in the Big West playoffs, LBSU is now locked into a first-round bye in the Big West Tournament.
“Job’s not finished,” Jenness said. “I think we just need to come in every day with the same mentality of being all on the same page and kick everyone’s a**.”
Catching The Wave: Predicting Big West women’s volleyball awards
BY TIMOTHY HESSEN Sports Editor
Defying its preseason expectations, Long Beach State women’s volleyball is engaged in a heated race with UC Davis and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for the No. 1 seed of the Big West. Will Beach stars like redshirt freshman opposite Logan King and sophomore setter Madi Maxwell take home any of the coveted conference awards?
With just two weeks remaining until the conclusion of the Big West women’s volleyball regular season, this week’s edition of “Catching The Wave” predicts which stars will take home individual hardware.
Freshman of the Year: Logan King, LBSU
Starting with the least debatable of the four major Big West awards this season, LBSU’s five-time Freshman of the Week has been the clear-cut best first-year in the conference.
King ranks third in the Big West with 3.55 kills per set and is the driving force of a Beach offense that leads
the conference in both kills and points per set.
Setter of the Year: Madi Maxwell, LBSU
The most tightly-contested award race in the Big West this season is between LBSU's own Maxwell and UC Davis setter Mia Starr.
True to her name, Starr has starred for the Aggies with 10.32 assists per set, ranked 22nd in the nation and leading the Big West.
However, Maxwell’s case for the award is in her versatility, as the sophomore setter has two triple-doubles to her name, ranks 13th in the conference digs and 20th in service aces while also averaging 9.22 assists per set.
With each star setter having legitimate claims to the award, this column argues the tiebreaker should be Maxwell’s offense grading out higher than Starr’s in every metric, as LBSU ranks above UC Davis in kills, hitting percentage and assists.
Libero of the Year: Ximena Cordero Barr, UC Davis
A libero is the captain of the defense, and the Aggies' suffocating defense has catapulted them into major contender status in the Big West. Leading the UC Davis defense is Ximena Cordero Barr.
The Tijuana native averages the third-most digs in the conference with 4.31 per game, and with UC Davis ranking an astounding fifth in the nation in opponent hitting percentage allowed, this award has to go to an Aggie this season.
Player of the Year: Jade Light, UC Davis
The only two-time Offensive Player of the Week this year, outside hitter Jade Light, has been a dominant force for the Aggies in her senior season.
Light has the same versatility as Maxwell for the setter award, averaging the 12th most digs and 15th most service aces, but is also the unrivaled best attacker in the Big West, averaging the most kills per set at 4.03. This would make her an easy choice for the most prized accolade in the conference.
SPORTS
LBSU women's soccer misses playoffs for second year in a row
BY JUNIOR CONTRERAS Sports Assistant
Long Beach State women’s soccer (5-8-5) finished eighth in the Big West for the second consecutive year, missing the Big West Women's Soccer Championship.
However, this has the program now focused on its “revenge arc” next season.
The Beach finished six points behind sixth place, Cal State Bakersfield, for the final spot in the Big West Championship, but their record alone will not tell you the full story of their hot-and-cold season.
Starting off strong, LBSU defeated the University of Hawai’i, who were picked by the league's coaches in the Big West Preseason Poll to win the conference.
The tide began to turn for the worse as The Beach went on a four-game losing streak, two of which came against top Big Ten conference teams – UCLA and the University of Washington.
The tide shifted back toward LBSU’s favor as they went five straight games without defeat, three of them being draws. The Beach then found themselves lost at sea as they went on to win only one of their next seven final games, each loss being by a score differential of one goal.
“From a results standpoint, we’re obviously disappointed, but from a performance standpoint, there were a lot of positives,” LBSU head coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. “We were on the front foot and dominating games and showing that we belong […] we just weren’t able to find enough quality in front of goal to make all the play really count.”
Empty-handed offensive attacks were constantly seen throughout the season.
LBSU led the Big West in shots on goal per game with 6.22, with 47% of their shots for the season being on target. Still, The Beach finished sixth in the conference in goals with 21.
“A consistent offensive identity that we couldn’t find; we had a hard time finding any type of momentum,” Ingrassia said. “Right off the bat, players going in and out, not available for games […] it affects the offensive identity of the group.”
The Beach’s offensive maestro, junior
ETHAN COHEN/Long Beach Current
Despite playing in just 10 games this season, LBSU junior forward Cherrie Cox recorded five goals while leading the conference in points per game at 1.2.
forward Cherrie Cox, had injuries throughout the season, forcing her to miss eight out of 18 games, including the final four contests as LBSU’s playoff hopes dwindled.
Cox, the 2023 Big West Offensive Player of the Year, continued her dominance when she was on the pitch.
Through her 10 games, Cox had five goals, two assists and 12 points, as she led the conference in points per game average with 1.2.
With Cox being out, Ingrassia’s offense had to take on a new identity of a pressing system.
“[Cox is] a big impactful player, so it’s really hard to replace that,” Ingrassia said. “You more almost have to reinvent it.”
Ingrassia's team is ready to pick themselves up and move on to next season, in what Ingrassia's team is calling their “revenge arc.”
“You can rest assured that the team will be motivated and ready to go,” Ingrassia said.
Although it was a losing season for The Beach, there were bright spots for the new generation of LBSU women's soccer. Freshman midfielder Ameera White and Washington transfer junior forward Radisson Banks were recognized and awarded by the Big West.
White led the Big West in assists in the regular season with six and was named to the Big West All-Freshman team.
“To have a freshman be so impactful, not only on the stat sheet but also in the run of play, is really exciting,” Ingrassia said. “She’s got a tremendous future ahead of her; her IQ is off the charts.”
Banks, who led the conference in shots with 68 and shots on goal with 32, was awarded second team All-Big West.
“[Banks] was a tremendously hard
worker; her work rate is really her superpower,” Ingrassia said. “To watch her get recognized is great for her.”
Junior defender Zoe Willis and junior midfielder Jordan Candelaria were recognized as All-Big West honorable mentions.
In pursuit of a bounce-back season next year, Ingrassia and the team’s goals remain consistent: success in the Big West and potentially an NCAA Tournament.
“We play for championships and NCAA tournaments and having success in the tournament; that never changes,” Ingrassia said. “I’m most excited to get working again.”
Ingrassia is thankful for his seniors and his team, who showed tremendous character and perseverance in the face of adversity, as well as the strong Beach community, which has supported the team throughout the season.
BY SEAN BOWEN
Contributor
FRESNO, Calif. – Long Beach State men’s basketball was handed its second consecutive loss on the road to open the season on Saturday, Nov. 8, falling 82-62 to Fresno State.
The Beach showed flashes of a lockdown defense in the opening half, holding the Bulldogs to single-digit points through the first nine minutes, but ultimately let go of the rope in the second half, which they lost by 12.
“We have to get to the point where when we are missing or making shots, it doesn't affect how we defend,” LBSU head coach Chris Acker said.
The Beach took a 7-4 lead early on after two quick buckets from sophomore forward Petar Majstorovic and a threepointer from freshman guard Gavin Sykes.
However, while the Bulldogs struggled early to put points on the board, their dominance on the glass cooled The Beach’s hot start, hauling in 26 boards to LBSU’s 12 in the first half.
Fresno State’s efforts on the boards were led by freshman center Wilson Jacques, who racked up a game-high 13 rebounds, as the Bulldogs stormed back to take a 28-20 lead into halftime.
“It's still early in the season, we have a lot of time to get better,” LBSU graduate guard Shaquil Bender said.
Bender finished with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting in 22 minutes off the bench for LBSU.
While LBSU remained within striking distance to begin the second half, an astounding four straight makes from beyond the arc for Fresno State, three from the hot hand of senior guard Cameron Faas, would shape the rest of the contest.
“We were disoriented with all of their player movement and ball movement,” Acker said. “We made a couple adjustments at the very end, but it was already too late.”
The Bulldogs quickly worked their way to an insurmountable margin, in large part due to redshirt senior guard Jake Heidbreder's 15 second-half points to put a potential comeback out of reach for The Beach.
Sykes led LBSU in scoring with a career-high 11 points, while Majstorovic recorded nine points but went 0-for-5 from beyond the arc.
LBSU wraps up its three-game road trip to begin the year against Pacific University on Wednesday, Nov. 12, before returning to the Walter Pyramid for the home opener against Illinois State on Sunday, Nov. 16.
Fresno State’s hot second half buries LBSU in 20-point rout
LBSU head coach Chris Acker assembles his team prior to tipoff as The Beach took on the Fresno State
Nov. 8.
We were disoriented with all of their player movement and ball movement. ”
Chris Aker
LBSU men's basketball head coach
SEAN BOWEN/Long Beach Current
Bulldogs at the Save Mart Center on