UNC-Greensboro vs Long Beach State Picks and Prediction – 11/26/2024

The UNC Greensboro Spartans (2-2) face the Long Beach State Beach (1-5) on November 25th. The Spartans are looking to bounce back after a 69-58 loss to Indiana, while the Beach aim to end a five-game losing streak following a narrow 72-69 defeat to Fresno State. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

UNC Greensboro has shown offensive promise, averaging 74.5 points per game while shooting 41.8% from the field. Guard Kenyon Giles leads the way with 14 points per game, and forward Miles Jones contributes significantly on the glass, pulling down 7.8 rebounds per contest. The Spartans’ ability to score in transition and control the boards has been critical to early season success, evidenced by 42 rebounds per game, a strength they’ll aim to exploit against Long Beach State. Ball movement has been another bright spot, as they average 15.3 assists per game, which has kept the offense fluid.

Defensively, the Spartans allow just 67 points per game and rely on a tenacious approach, averaging 7.5 steals per contest. Kenyon Giles leads the team with 2.2 steals per game, demonstrating the ability to disrupt opponents' offenses. Greensboro’s defensive rebounding has been crucial in limiting second-chance points, which could be a decisive factor in this game. 

Long Beach State’s offense is heavily reliant on guard Devin Askew, who averages 16.7 points per game but struggles with efficiency, shooting just 34.7% from the floor. The Beach score an average of 66.2 points per game while shooting 41.0% as a team. Forward Austin Johnson adds 6.7 rebounds per game, but the team’s rebounding overall is inconsistent, with just 37.8 per game, leaving them vulnerable to Greensboro's strength on the boards. 

Defensively, Long Beach State allows 71.8 points per game and lacks a consistent presence in the paint. Shot-blocking is limited, with Derrick Michael Xzavierro leading the team with just 1.0 block per game, and they average only 7 steals per contest. This defensive inconsistency has left the Beach unable to close out games effectively, which will be a key challenge as they face a balanced Spartans squad.

The Spartans’ dominance on the boards and defensive consistency make them the clear favorites in this matchup. Expect Greensboro to control the pace and capitalize on Long Beach State's inefficiencies. Final Score Prediction: UNC Greensboro Spartans wins and covers 76-65.