California State University at Northridge
2-6
South Dakota
3-5
Matadors Drop 68-65 Decision to South Dakota
12/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -
Despite erasing an 11-point deficit in the first half, the CSUN men's basketball team could not hold off South Dakota late as the Matadors (2-6) lost 68-65 to the Coyotes (3-5) in a non-conference game on Tuesday night at The Matadome. Both Stephan Hicks (27 points) and Devonte Elliott (14) set new individual season highs for scoring in the defeat.
"We had a bunch of guys that didn't show up and you let a team come in here and beat you that shouldn't beat you," said CSUN head coach Reggie Theus. "Give South Dakota a lot of credit because they out-scrapped our guys and out-fought them. They out-rebounded us also."
The Coyotes jumped out to an 11-0 start after the opening tip, but the Matadors came roaring back after the first media timeout. CSUN put together a 7-0 run, capped off by a steal from Tre Hale-Edmerson and a fastbreak layup by Aaron Parks, to trim the deficit to four points with under 15 minutes to go in the half.
After South Dakota rebuilt its lead to 11 points, the Matadors went on a 17-5 run over five minutes to take the lead for the first time. Ajon Efferson's 3-pointer with 2:03 to go in the half put CSUN ahead 34-33, but the Coyotes scored the final five points of the half to take a four-point lead into the locker room.
South Dakota went up by as many as seven points in the second half before two quick layups for Hicks tied the game at 55-55 with 8:26 remaining. The Coyotes scored the next six points, however, and were able to hold off a late CSUN charge down the wire.
A basket by Stephen Maxwell and a pair of free throws from Hicks brought the Matadors to within a point with 10 seconds to play, but Brandon Bos hit two foul shots and CSUN was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded.
Hicks went 9-for-13 from the field and finished one point shy of matching his career high while grabbing nine rebounds. Elliott hit 5-of-10 shots from the floor and scored eight of his 14 points in the first half. Maxwell added 11 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes.
Hale-Edmerson had four points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks in another solid all-around effort. Landon Drew recorded five assists on the night and is now tied for 10th all-time at CSUN with 260 career assists.
As a team, the Matadors shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the field and went 15-for-19 at the free-throw line. The team outscored South Dakota in the paint 32-20, off turnovers 15-5 and off the bench 17-9.
Casey Kasperbauer went 8-for-13 on the night, including 7-for-11 from 3-point territory, to lead the Coyotes with 25 points.
The Matadors will next play on Thursday night, December 4, when CSUN visits nearby Pepperdine. Tipoff between the Matadors and Waves is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, Calif.
