California State University at Northridge
0-2
#2 Arizona
2-0
CSUN Turns Heads in 86-68 Defeat at #2 Arizona
11/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
En Español
TUCSON, Ariz. -
After staying within striking distance through the first half, the CSUN Matadors (0-2) poured in 45 second-half points before falling 86-68 to the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats (2-0) on Sunday evening at McKale Center in the EA Sports Maui Invitational Mainland Challenge. The Matadors closed the night on a 13-2 run in their first-ever meeting with the Wildcats, an Elite Eight team from a year ago.
"Every team has an identity, and I think that the way we want people to see us is that we play hard every night," said CSUN head coach Reggie Theus. "We are a team that is going to drive the ball to the basket and get to the line, and we're not going to stop. Even though the game was 18 points, you never felt that it was that far."
As they did on Friday night at No. 16 San Diego State the Matadors held serve early in the contest, trading baskets with the heavily favored Wildcats in front of a sold-out crowd. A mid-range jumper from Devonte Elliott and an emphatic slam dunk by Zacarry Douglas kept CSUN within four points of Arizona at 18-14 with just over eight minutes to play in the first half.
The Wildcats finished the first 20 minutes on a 19-9 run to take a 37-23 lead into the locker room. After one half of play, the Matadors had more points off of turnovers and matched the Wildcats on the fastbreak.
The second half proved to be a treat for those watching the game as the teams combined for 94 points. CSUN continued to get to the free-throw line, where they were led by Aaron Parks (9-for-12), and found space in the paint to exploit holes in the Arizona defense.
The Wildcats built their lead to as many as 29 with 4:11 to play before the CSUN offense took over the rest of the way. Following the media timeout with 3:47 on the clock the Matadors outscored Arizona 17-8, including the final nine points of the game.
"Even being down I told the guys, 'Let's win the last 3:47,'" said Theus. "I thought we did that and that kept our guys playing hard."
Stephen Maxwell led all scorers with 19 points and added four rebounds to his line. Parks (15 points, three rebounds) and Tre Hale-Edmerson (11 points, four rebounds) joined Maxwell with double-digit scoring numbers. Hale-Edmerson and freshman Taelin Webb each recorded four assists, and the freshman Webb finished the night 2-of-3 from the floor and 3-for-4 at the free-throw line for seven points.
"We rarely play in an environment like this, but I think it was pretty good for us at the beginning of the season. That's why we schedule these games," said Maxwell. "I feel like for the most part we battled and kept it a game."
As a team, the Matadors shot 42.3 percent (22-of-52) from the field and a robust 78.6 percent (22-of-28) at the line.
CSUN returns home to the San Fernando Valley to host Montana State in its home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Tipoff at The Blacktop at The Matadome is scheduled for 7 p.m.
