UCSB Pulls Away from CSUN for 75-51 Win

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball stayed with Big West leader UC Santa Barbara for most of Saturday night's contest but the Gauchos would pull away down the stretch to win 75-51 at the Thunderdome. Tavrion Dawson collected his fifth double-double over the last six games, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Lyrik Shreiner scored all 10 of his points in the second half while Terrell Gomez posted nine points and three assists. After the Gauchos led 32-25 at the half, UCSB used a 19-1 run in the second half to cruise to a 24-point win over the Matadors.

"We stayed with them for the first half; we're down seven and they had 10 offensive rebounds. In the end, they we're too big and too physical around the basket," said head coach Reggie Theus. "When you shoot 32 percent for the game, you're not going to win. [Tonight's loss] wasn't anything about the game, it was just their size, their girth and their toughness around the basket."

The Matadors finished shooting 32.8 percent from the field and just 16.7 percent (2-for-12) from the 3-point line while the Gauchos shot 46.2 percent for the night and 38.1 percent (8-for-21) from downtown. UCSB enjoyed a robust 49-32 advantage in rebounding and outscored the Matadors 20-13 in second chance points.

In a first half with 10 lead changes and six ties, the Gauchos scored the first four points of the game before the Matadors answered with five points of their own. Gomez knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner to start the Matadors' scoring, and Reggie Theus Jr. would put CSUN in front with a basket in the lane.

Micheal Warren earned an old-fashioned 3-point play after an off-balance shot to put CSUN up 9-8. On the next Matador possession, Warren knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner. Gomez then hit a mid-range jumper to give CSUN its biggest lead of 14-11 at the 11:44 mark of the first half.

The Gauchos would surge ahead 20-18 after a 3-pointer from Max Heidegger but the Matadors evened the game moments later on a driving layup from Jalon Pipkins. Warren squared the game once more at 22-22 off a feed from Theus Jr., however the Gauchos would close on a 10-3 run to end the half.

UCSB created separation thanks to a 27-17 rebounding edge in the first half. Leland King II posted a double-double in the first half alone as he scored 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. King II stretched the Gaucho lead to 28-23 following an offensive rebound from Jarriesse Blackmon. After Dawson cut the deficit to 28-25 with 2:09 left, Heidegger and Blackmon scored on the Gauchos' final two possessions of the half to push the lead to 32-25.

CSUN continued to battle UCSB in the early minutes of the second half. On the Matadors' first possession, Shreiner completed a 3-point play that trimmed the deficit to 34-28 just over a minute into the period. Dawson would then connect on back-to-back plays in the lane to trim the Gaucho lead to 36-32. After Ami Lakoju hit a jumper, Gomez brought CSUN within four again on two free throws.

Heidegger hit a wide open 3-pointer to push the lead to eight at the 12:49 mark but Shreiner followed with consecutive baskets to make it a 44-39 game. Shreiner took the ball to the hoop once more to bring CSUN within six (49-43) with 10:42 on the clock.

Following Shreiner's drive, the Matadors went cold from the field for a key stretch, giving the Gauchos an opportunity to take advantage. Missing seven-straight shots and going without a field goal for over seven minutes, the Matadors quickly found themselves behind by double-digits.

King II scored back-to-back shots in the paint to push the lead to 10. Moments later, King II drained a 3-pointer from straight-away to extend the lead even further. Heidegger nailed another 3-pointer at the 4:14 mark followed by another trey from Marcus Jackson that capped off a 19-1 run.

CSUN was unable to get closer than 21 points in the final minutes as the Gauchos marched to the finish line with a 24-point victory. For UCSB, King II finished with a game-high 25 points and 17 rebounds. The Big West leader in points per game, Heidegger scored 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting.

The Matadors continue their three-game road trip next Wednesday (Feb. 7) at UC Irvine. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. The game will be aired on ESPN3 while an audio only broadcast will be available on the CSUN Sports Network presented by Dignity Health with Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister on the call.

UCSB Pulls Away from CSUN for 75-51 Win

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Players Mentioned

Tavrion Dawson

Terrell Gomez

Jalon Pipkins

Lyrik Shreiner

Reggie Theus Jr.

Micheal Warren

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