Matadors Outlast UC Riverside, Sweep Season Series

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RIVERSIDE, CA---

Trailing with less than 90 seconds left to play, CSUN Men's Basketball (9-12, 5-3 BWC) pulled out a gritty 63-59 victory over UC Riverside on Saturday evening at the SRC Arena. Tavrion Dawson posted his second-straight double-double as he finished with a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds. Off the bench, Micheal Warren poured in 12 points including a 3-pointer that put the Matadors ahead for good in the final seconds. Despite an off night from the field, the Matadors hit key shots down the stretch and made crucial defensive stops to claim the victory along with their first season sweep of UC Riverside since 2009-2010.

"We shot 32 percent from the field, we had guys not shooting well on the road; it was a perfect scenario for us to lose this game but defensively we were solid," said head coach Reggie Theus. "They shot 34 percent from the field. They sit at 15 percent from the 3-point line, we shoot 35. So this game was won by our defense. We contained them in the end when they were trying to go 1-on-1, we made a couple of big shots, and then we got to the rim. We shot 30 free throws on the road. That's the way we have to play. It was a sustained effort from everybody."

Seeking its fourth conference road win already this season, the Matadors had to overcome a poor shooting night from the field. CSUN finished shooting 32.1 percent including 29.6 percent in the first half. In contrast, however, the Matadors were able to keep the Highlanders from scoring with much regularity as well. UC Riverside finished shooting 34.4 percent and just 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from 3-point land. Flashing its calling card, CSUN earned its way to the free throw line consistently, shooting 22-of-30 (73.3 percent) from the charity stripe compared to 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) for the Highlanders. The Matadors also out-rebounded UC Riverside in the win, 45-35.

In a seesaw battle, the two teams took turns trading leads in the final minutes. CSUN and UC Riverside exchanged eight different leads in the second half including five in the final 2:48 of the game.

Erasing a six-point CSUN halftime lead, the Highlanders took a 48-44 lead at the 6:08 mark of the game. CSUN battled back by scoring six of the next eight points as Dawson squared the game with a jumper at the 4:23 mark. Moments later, with the Matadors down 54-52, Kendall Smith knocked down a 3-pointer to give CSUN its first lead in over seven minutes.

The Highlanders would respond on the very next possession to take a 56-55 lead on a jumper from Dikymbe Martin. The lead would be shortlived as Aaron Parks earned his way to the free throw line and converted on both attempts to again put CSUN on top, 57-56, with 1:52 left to play. On the ensuing possession, UC Riverside again took the lead right back on short jumper in the lane by Chance Murray.

Down by a point with 1:25 on the clock, CSUN marched back up the court sought to take the lead once more. The Matadors worked the ball around the horn and eventually found Warren for a corner 3-point attempt. The junior would knock down the shot to give CSUN a 60-58 lead.

After both teams traded free throws, the Matador lead remained at two (61-59) with 10.4 seconds left and UC Riverside in possession of the ball. Applying pressure defense, CSUN forced a turnover as Smith intercepted the inbounds pass. Following a UCR foul, Dawson went to the free throw line and hit both free throws to seal the game for CSUN.

In the first half, the two sides engaged in a defensive struggle as neither team hit above 30 percent from the field.

The Matadors, however, were able to erase an early three-point Highlander lead with a 14-0 run to take a 22-11 advantage at the 8:57 mark of the period. Six different Matadors scored during the stretch including Warren who scored five points. The Highlanders cut into the CSUN advantage with a 10-2 run to trim the lead to three but the Matadors would not let UC Riverside climb any closer in the half. CSUN headed into the break with a 32-26 lead after Darin Johnson knocked down two free throws near the end of the half.

Now at the halfway mark of the conference season, the Matadors have earned a winning percentage (.625) through eight Big West games for the first time in six seasons. Holding a 4-1 record in road Big West games, the Matadors have already won the most road games in conference play since 2010-11.

Dawson's double-double is his fifth of his career and his third of the season. Shooting 6-of-13 from the field, Dawson also went a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line. Over the last two games, Dawson has averaged 16.5 points per game and 12.5 rebounds per game.

Finishing with five points, Parks grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds to go along with three assists. Continuing to close in on 1,000 career points, Parks has moved to within 10 points of reaching the milestone.

For the Highlanders, Martin finished with a team-high 13 points while Secean Johnson had 12 points.

CSUN returns home for the start of a four-game homestand on Wednesday (Feb. 1) against Long Beach State. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with a tip-off time slated for 7 p.m.

Matadors Outlast UC Riverside, Sweep Season Series

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Team Stats

Tavrion Dawson

Micheal Warren

Kendall Smith

Rakim Lubin

Players Mentioned

Tavrion Dawson

Darin Johnson

Aaron Parks

Kendall Smith

Micheal Warren