Traore's free throws help Long Beach State top UCI

Aboubacar Traore didn't get another triple-double for Long Beach State on Friday night, but his steely nerves at the freethrow line down the stretch against UC Irvine was just as impressive.

A night after recording the first triple-double in Big West Conference Tournament history, Traore went 8 for 8 from the line in the final three minutes to help fourth-seeded Long Beach hold on for an 83-79 semifinals victory against top-seeded UC Irvine in Henderson, Nevada.

LBSU (20-14) will play the winner of second-seeded UC Davis and third-seeded Hawaii in the championship game today at 6:30 p.m.

Traore had 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists against the Anteaters, a night after posting 12 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists in an 86-67 win against fifth-seeded UC Riverside, just the second triple-double in program history.

A 63.7% free throw shooter this season, Traore finished 12 for 13 against UCI.

“These guys have worked to get where they are and they deserve to be in the game tomorrow,” said Long Beach coach Dan Monson, who will step down at the end of this season. “Being in it is one thing, winning it is another and we're happy, we feel like we deserve it, but we're not done. We didn't come here to get to the championship game, we came here to go to the NCAA Tournament.”

Traore had plenty of help against the Anteaters (24-9), who beat Long Beach by double digits in both regular-season

AT A GLANCE Semifinals LONG BEACH STATE 83, UC IRVINE 79 HAWAII VS. UC DAVIS, LATE Long Beach State vs. Hawaii/UC Davis, Henderson, Nev., 6:30 p.m., ESPN2

Today's final: meetings.

Jadon Jones had 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench, Marcus Tsohonis also scored 15 points, AJ George pitched in 11 points and Lassina Traore finished with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Justin Hohn scored 19 points, Pierre Crockrell II had a season-high 18 points and nine assists and Devin Tillis and Bent Leuchten scored 10 points each for Irvine (24-9), which will look back on its nine missed free throws in 19 trips to the line as a difference-maker.

“As favorites, for us to fall short, we'll draw criticism and I feel like we should,” UCI coach Russell Turner said. “We didn't play our best game tonight. That sometimes happens. It wasn't because we didn't want it. It wasn't because we were afraid or tight, I don't think.”

Aboubacar Traore broke the final tie with two free throws with 1:05 left to give Long Beach a 77-75 lead.

George blocked a jumper by Hohn on the other end and Lassina Traore grabbed an offensive rebound with 21 seconds remaining, leading to two more free throws by Tsohonis and a four-point lead.

Aboubacar Traore then held off the Anteaters by going 4 for 4 from the line in the final six seconds.