Long Beach State's Fired Coach Wins To Coach Another Day - In NCAA Tournament

What happens in Vegas … doesn't stay in Vegas as far as the Long Beach State men's basketball team and its lame duck coach Dan Monson are concerned.

What happened in Vegas late Saturday night goes to the NCAA Tournament.

Monson, whom Long Beach State fired last Monday but allowed to coach through the end of the season, directed his fourth-seeded team to a 74-70 win over No. 2 seed UC Davis in the Big West Conference Tournament championship game at the aptly named Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada - 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip.

It was a long shot, and the Beach - formerly the 49ers - went for broke. The inspired team (21-14, 10-10 Big West for 5th) rolled its third win in three nights after five straight losses to end the regular season and won the league tournament. And that hands over the pot - an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. Long Beach State will learn its destination and opponent during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show Sunday night (6 p.m., CBS).

Long Beach State men's basketball coach Dan Monson during a tense moment in his team's win over UC Davis for the Big West Tournament title and automatic NCAA Tournament bid Saturday night near Las Vegas.

"It's great. God has blessed me with a great career," Monson said on ESPN2 moments after the game ended. "And these kids have been awesome to coach."

Long Beach State's Dan Monson Channels His Inner Jim Harbaugh

Monson, 62, has been Long Beach State's coach since the 2007-08 season and last took the program to the NCAA Tournament in 2012.

"When Jim Harbaugh says, ‘Who’s got it better than him?' somebody needs to tell him Dan Monson," Monson said.

Harbaugh, who won the College Football Playoff national championship last January as Michigan's coach before leaving to coach the Los Angeles Chargers, often said after Michigan wins, "Who's got it better than us? Nobody."

Long Beach State celebrated almost as hard as Michigan after the win.

Long Beach State senior forward Amari Stroud celebrates late in Long Beach State's win over UC Davis Saturday night just outside Las Vegas.

"They're good people, and that's what you've got to start with," Monson said of his team. "They have character. We had an up-and-down year. But they came in here, and they played for each other."

On Friday night, Long Beach State upset No. 1 seed UC Irvine (24-9, 17-3) by 83-79 to reach the tournament title game.

UC Davis fell to 20-13.  

Junior forward Lassina Traore and senior guard Marcus Tsohonis each scored 25 points for Long Beach State in the win Saturday night. UC Davis led 32-27 at the half and 41-33 early in the second half before Long Beach State took control.

HENDERSON, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Jeffrey Yan #40 of the Long Beach State 49ers celebrates with teammates after defeating the UC Davis Aggies in the championship game of the Big West Conference men's basketball tournament at The Dollar Loan Center on March 16, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Zak Krill/Getty Images)

Monson said he is not done coaching, though he will be finished at Long Beach State as soon as he loses another game. Unless Long Beach State athletic director Bobby Smitheran changes his mind, or someone higher up than him makes a move.

"I don't think this is my last job," he said. "I love coaching. I love teams. I need a new challenge. But it's life. It's on to the next chapter."

And the Big Dance, or in his case for Long Beach State - The Last Waltz.