Friday, January 29
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
4:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
5-7, 1-4BWC
70
at
76
Cal Poly
3-10, 1-6BWC
1
2
F
CSUN
33
37
70
Cal Poly
29
47
76
Team Stats
CSUN
CPO
FG%
.439
.475
3FG%
.400
.333
FT%
.700
.611
RB
39
35
TO
10
6
STL
3
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Heidi Eligio
Late Rally Lifts Cal Poly Past CSUN, 76-70
1/29/2021 5:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.---Cal Poly (3-10, 1-6 Big West) ended the game on a 16-4 run to rally past CSUN Men's Basketball (5-7, 1-4 Big West), 76-70, in the opener of back-to-back games on Friday at Mott Athletics Center. The Matadors' backcourt led the way offensively, combining for 37 points as TJ Starks had 19 points while Darius Brown II added 18 points. Off the bench, Alex Merkviladze had a team-high six rebounds to go with seven points.
CSUN finished shooting 43.9 percent from the floor and made 14-of-20 from the free throw line (70.0 percent). After making nearly 57 percent of their shots in the second half, the Mustangs shot 47.5 percent for the game while making 11-of-18 free throws (61.1 percent). The Matadors out-rebounded the Mustangs 39-35 while points in the paint went Cal Poly's way at 34-28.
FIRST HALF
Both teams kicked off the game making their first three shots as the score was deadlocked at 7-7 after two-plus minutes. The Mustangs would go in front on a jumper from Alimamy Koroma before the Matadors answered with an 11-0 run. Following back-to-back baskets from Starks and Brown II, Festus Ndumanya completed a traditional 3-point play and Brendan Harrick followed with a 3-pointer to put CSUN ahead 18-9. Cal Poly though came back with an 11-4 run of its own to quickly pull to within two. Mark Crowe led the way for the Mustangs in the first half with 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range to keep Cal Poly close.
All eight of the Matadors' players who came into the game scored in the opening half while Brown II had a team-high nine points. CSUN remained in front down the stretch of the half as it took a 31-26 lead late following a jumper from Brown II. Colby Rogers answered with a 3-point basket with 31 seconds to play but Starks wrapped up the half with a field goal before the halftime buzzer to give CSUN a 33-28 lead at intermission.
SECOND HALF
The Matadors maintained their lead in the opening minutes of the second half after baskets from their backcourt. The Mustangs though began the half by going 5-of-7 from the field including receiving two 3-point makes from Crowe. The second of those treys gave the Mustangs a 43-38 lead forcing a CSUN timeout. Moments later, Starks would score the Matadors' next six points to give the visitors the lead right back.
After the lead traded hands six times, the Matadors surged ahead 51-49 after a 3-pointer from Brown II with 12:01 left to play. CSUN built a slim 54-49 lead before the Mustangs trimmed the lead to one on four separate occasions. Harrick connected on a timely 3-pointer and Merkviladze scored a put-back layup to give CSUN a 66-60 edge with 5:52 left on the clock. From there, the Matadors would only make one field goal for the remainder of the game as the Mustangs took advantage.
After a 6-0 run tied the game, Cal Poly received key baskets from Colby Rogers and Keith Smith to go in front 71-68. Harrick had an opportunity to square the game with under 90 seconds to play but his 3-pointer went off the mark. Koroma made two shots in the final seconds and Crowe added a late free throw to ensure a Mustang six-point win.
GAME NOTES
Starks went a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line while he finished with four rebounds and three assists. Brown II chipped in with five rebounds and two assists. Harrick knocked down 3-of-6 from 3-point range for nine points. Brookins made his first career start as a Matador and registered six points, two rebounds and two blocks.
For the Mustangs, Crowe had a game-high 21 points and Koroma added 20 points.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH MARK GOTTFRIED
"We're struggling to defend people right now. We've got to be better defensively. You've got a team (Cal Poly) that got comfortable pre-game. They got going, started making shots. From the perimeter they made it and in the second half, they did a good job going inside and getting some baskets there. We've got to figure out a way to defend better. This team gets 76 points, and some of that is the tempo of the game, but the meat and potatoes are we've got to guard better."
UP NEXT
The Matadors are looking for a season split on Saturday when they take on Cal Poly again. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. on BigWest.TV. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister are on the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#UniteTheValley
Â
CSUN finished shooting 43.9 percent from the floor and made 14-of-20 from the free throw line (70.0 percent). After making nearly 57 percent of their shots in the second half, the Mustangs shot 47.5 percent for the game while making 11-of-18 free throws (61.1 percent). The Matadors out-rebounded the Mustangs 39-35 while points in the paint went Cal Poly's way at 34-28.
FIRST HALF
Both teams kicked off the game making their first three shots as the score was deadlocked at 7-7 after two-plus minutes. The Mustangs would go in front on a jumper from Alimamy Koroma before the Matadors answered with an 11-0 run. Following back-to-back baskets from Starks and Brown II, Festus Ndumanya completed a traditional 3-point play and Brendan Harrick followed with a 3-pointer to put CSUN ahead 18-9. Cal Poly though came back with an 11-4 run of its own to quickly pull to within two. Mark Crowe led the way for the Mustangs in the first half with 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range to keep Cal Poly close.
All eight of the Matadors' players who came into the game scored in the opening half while Brown II had a team-high nine points. CSUN remained in front down the stretch of the half as it took a 31-26 lead late following a jumper from Brown II. Colby Rogers answered with a 3-point basket with 31 seconds to play but Starks wrapped up the half with a field goal before the halftime buzzer to give CSUN a 33-28 lead at intermission.
SECOND HALF
The Matadors maintained their lead in the opening minutes of the second half after baskets from their backcourt. The Mustangs though began the half by going 5-of-7 from the field including receiving two 3-point makes from Crowe. The second of those treys gave the Mustangs a 43-38 lead forcing a CSUN timeout. Moments later, Starks would score the Matadors' next six points to give the visitors the lead right back.
After the lead traded hands six times, the Matadors surged ahead 51-49 after a 3-pointer from Brown II with 12:01 left to play. CSUN built a slim 54-49 lead before the Mustangs trimmed the lead to one on four separate occasions. Harrick connected on a timely 3-pointer and Merkviladze scored a put-back layup to give CSUN a 66-60 edge with 5:52 left on the clock. From there, the Matadors would only make one field goal for the remainder of the game as the Mustangs took advantage.
After a 6-0 run tied the game, Cal Poly received key baskets from Colby Rogers and Keith Smith to go in front 71-68. Harrick had an opportunity to square the game with under 90 seconds to play but his 3-pointer went off the mark. Koroma made two shots in the final seconds and Crowe added a late free throw to ensure a Mustang six-point win.
GAME NOTES
Starks went a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line while he finished with four rebounds and three assists. Brown II chipped in with five rebounds and two assists. Harrick knocked down 3-of-6 from 3-point range for nine points. Brookins made his first career start as a Matador and registered six points, two rebounds and two blocks.
For the Mustangs, Crowe had a game-high 21 points and Koroma added 20 points.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH MARK GOTTFRIED
"We're struggling to defend people right now. We've got to be better defensively. You've got a team (Cal Poly) that got comfortable pre-game. They got going, started making shots. From the perimeter they made it and in the second half, they did a good job going inside and getting some baskets there. We've got to figure out a way to defend better. This team gets 76 points, and some of that is the tempo of the game, but the meat and potatoes are we've got to guard better."
UP NEXT
The Matadors are looking for a season split on Saturday when they take on Cal Poly again. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. on BigWest.TV. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister are on the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#UniteTheValley
Â
Texas State vs. Eastern Washington
Saturday, November 20
Texas State vs. Dixie State
Friday, November 19
A Conversation With Mark Gottfried
Friday, June 19
Preseason chat with Terrell Gomez
Thursday, October 03