The Long Beach State men's basketball team beats UC Santa Barbara 67-64 in the Big West Tournament semifinals at Dollar Loan Center Arena in Henderson, NV on Friday, Mar. 11, 2022. Photo courtesy Mike Guardabascio

The Long Beach State men’s basketball team is just 40 minutes away from going dancing.

Thanks to a buzzer-beater from St. Anthony alum Jadon Jones on Friday night in the Big West Tournament semifinals, the Beach will face Cal State Fullerton tonight at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN 2. If they win, they’d earn the 10th trip to the NCAA Tournament in program history.

It’s been a special year for the Beach, who rebounded after a slow start to claim the regular season conference championship, and have now earned a spot at the precipice of the biggest party in college sports.

It’s also been a special year for head coach Dan Monson, who led the team to its last NCAA trip in 2012 but who’s seen some tough years in the last decade.

“I can’t say there’s a season I’ve enjoyed more than this one,” Monson said after Friday’s game. “This one I’m cherishing because I know how hard this is.”

Tonight’s Long Beach State game in Henderson, NV will be broadcast on ESPN2 beginning at 8:30 p.m. or fans can follow along with us on Twitter @562sports for live courtside updates from Nevada by beat writer JJ Fiddler.

Long Beach State will try to make the NCAA Tournament, with its first big test at noon today