California State University Northridge Athletics
California State University at Northridge
8-22, 3-11BWC
Cal State Fullerton
9-19, 1-12BWC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cal State Fullerton | 39 | 33 | 72 |
| CSUN | 35 | 47 | 82 |
CSUN Erases 12-Point Deficit, Defeats Cal State Fullerton 82-72
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
En Español
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -
The CSUN Matadors (8-22, 3-11 Big West) took a significant step toward the postseason with an 82-72, come-from-behind victory over the visiting Cal State Fullerton Titans (9-19, 1-12 Big West) on Thursday night at The Matadome. Stephen Maxwell had 24 points and 13 rebounds, Stephan Hicks added 22 points and the Matadors fought back from down a dozen to create space in the standings with the Big West Conference Tournament looming.
"I put the challenge out to our guys before the game and I really let them know, from a positive and a negative, that their opportunity to go to the conference tournament depended on them showing up tonight," said CSUN head coach Reggie Theus. "I thought that all three of our seniors did a great job. They really showed up and I thought they played with passion."
In what was essentially a must-win game for both sides' hopes of playing in the postseason, the Matadors and Titans played a back-and-forth contest that went down to the wire. CSUN built an early 11-7 lead on a three-point play by Maxwell and a 3-pointer from Tre Hale-Edmerson before the first media timeout.
After leading by four points at 13-9, the Matadors conceded a 12-0 run that saw the Titans take control of the momentum. Consecutive 3-pointers from Alex Harris and Jordan Mason allowed Fullerton to go ahead by 12 with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half.
CSUN was able to stay focused, however, and whittled away at the deficit before halftime. Following a tip-in by Steve McClellan, Maxwell threw down a dunk and hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to trim the Fullerton lead to 39-35 at the break.
Devonte Elliott stole the ball on the first possession of the second half and made two free throws to bring the Matadors even closer before a Hicks jumper tied the score with 19 minutes remaining in regulation. Despite the swing for CSUN, the Titans came back to score nine of the next 11 points and regain a seven-point advantage.
The Matadors took the lead for good after Elliott found Hicks open for a 3-pointer that put CSUN up 57-55. Solid free-throw shooting down the stretch sealed the victory and brought the Matadors a step closer to locking up the final berth in the conference tournament.
Maxwell posted the 41st double-double of his career and also matched a career high with four steals. Hicks had two steals on the night and four rebounds in addition to his point total.
Aaron Parks chipped in 12 points in 31 minutes off the bench while Landon Drew, Elliott and Hale-Edmerson each had eight. Drew also had seven assists, Elliott brought down six rebounds and Hale-Edmerson had three assists to go along with a pair of 3-pointers.
As a team, the Matadors shot 48 percent from the floor (25-of-52), 55 percent from beyond the arc (6-of-11) and 87 percent at the free-throw line (26-of-30). The team made its first 19 free-throw attempts and also out-rebounded the Titans 21-14 in the second half.
With the win, CSUN now has two more victories than the Titans with two games remaining. However, the Titans can make up some ground as the team still has three games left on the schedule.
"Whatever's happened from this point behind us doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is what happens from this point forward," said Theus.
CSUN will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 28, when the team hosts UC Riverside at 7:30 p.m. in a game broadcast by FOX Sports West Prime Ticket. Following the game, the program will honor its four seniors, Maxwell, Hicks, Elliott and Robert Cid, in an on-court ceremony.
