Saturday, November 20
Northridge, Calif.
12:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
79
vs
73
Dixie State
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Will Navarro
Matadors Defeat Dixie State to Earn First Win of the Season
11/20/2021 2:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Four Matadors scored in double figures as CSUN (1-3) picked up its first win under interim head coach Trent Johnson by a 79-73 final over Dixie State at the Good Sam Empire Classic on Saturday. Atin Wright tallied a team-high 18 points and went 4-of-4 from 3-point range while Onyi Eyisi chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds. Brendan Harrick knocked down four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points and Elijah Hardy posted 10 points, seven assists and three steals. The Matadors trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half before roaring back to earn a split at the Good Sam Empire Classic.
The Matadors shot a season-high 50.0 percent from the field and made 10-of-15 from 3-point range (66.7 percent). The Trailblazers were held to 41.7 percent for the game and connected on 5-of-17 from 3-point range (29.4 percent). At the free throw line, CSUN made 15-of-21 (71.4 percent) while Dixie State converted on 28-of-35 attempts (80.0 percent). The Matadors out-rebounded the Trailblazers 35-28 and posted a 36-21 edge in bench points.
GAME BREAKDOWN
After taking a 2-0 lead on the first possession of the game, the Matadors would find themselves trailing for nearly the remainder of the first half. CSUN made just one of their next six shot attempts and committed four turnovers, giving the Trailblazers a chance to race out to a 12-4 lead. Jacob Nicolds drained a 3-pointer to push the Dixie State lead to 18-9 before CSUN scored six unanswered points with four coming from Darius Beane. Darius Brown II would hit a 3-pointer to pull CSUN to within one but Dixie State countered with an 11-0 run to push its lead to its biggest margin of the half at 30-18.Â
Wright ended a near four-minute dry spell with two free throws, which would spark a Matador 13-2 run. Fidelis Okereke threw down a dunk to pull CSUN to within six before Miles James found the bottom of the net from long range. With the lead down to one, Hardy picked up a steal and two free throws to give CSUN its first lead since the opening seconds of the half. The Trailblazers though went into the half leading as Cameron Gooden converted on a late layup to give Dixie State a 38-36 advantage at intermission.
In a similar fashion to the first half, the Trailblazers took advantage of a CSUN slow start to extend their lead. Both Hunter Schofield and Dancell Leter converted on traditional 3-point plays to put CSUN into a 44-36 deficit. The lead later swelled to nine points (47-38) on a layup from Gooden at the 16:14 mark of the second half. CSUN though had an answer as Harrick and Wright drilled 3-pointers and Eyisi scored in the paint to help complete a 10-0 Matador run. Wright put the Matadors in front again on a 3-pointer at 51-49 near the midway point of the half.
Despite falling behind, Dixie State remained within striking distance thanks in large part to free throw shooting as the Trailblazers made 18-of-21 at the charity stripe in the second half. Gooden made a pair of free throws with 3:39 remaining to bring Dixie State to within one point (64-63). However, CSUN would make key plays down the stretch to hold off the Trailblazers. Eyisi scored back-to-back baskets with under three minutes to play including a crucial 3-point play that pushed the lead to five. Wright then made a timely 3-pointer to give CSUN its biggest lead (75-68) with 44 seconds remaining. Both Kailen Rains and Brown converted on late free throws, helping clinch a CSUN win.
GAME NOTES
Hardy earned all-tournament honors for his performances at the Good Sam Empire Classic. He averaged 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the Matadors' two games at the event.
Christian Gray pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds including five offensive boards and added five points in 23 minutes of action. Harrick went 4-of-6 from 3-point range in the victory. Wright scored 11 of his 18 points after halftime.
For Dixie State, Cameron Gooden finished with 20 points and eight rebounds as he also earned all-tournament honors.
COACH TRENT JOHNSON POST-GAME COMMENTS
"It was painful what happened yesterday afternoon so I was concerned, and rightfully so, because they care and they know they didn't play to their expectations and our expectations, and we let a game get away. It was a sluggish start, we were out of rhythm but I thought with as many guys as we played, they found a way to make plays and make plays for each other."
UP NEXT
The Matadors conclude a three-game homestand with a Wednesday afternoon game against Saint Katherine. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. on ESPN+ with Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister on the call.
#UniteTheValley
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The Matadors shot a season-high 50.0 percent from the field and made 10-of-15 from 3-point range (66.7 percent). The Trailblazers were held to 41.7 percent for the game and connected on 5-of-17 from 3-point range (29.4 percent). At the free throw line, CSUN made 15-of-21 (71.4 percent) while Dixie State converted on 28-of-35 attempts (80.0 percent). The Matadors out-rebounded the Trailblazers 35-28 and posted a 36-21 edge in bench points.
GAME BREAKDOWN
After taking a 2-0 lead on the first possession of the game, the Matadors would find themselves trailing for nearly the remainder of the first half. CSUN made just one of their next six shot attempts and committed four turnovers, giving the Trailblazers a chance to race out to a 12-4 lead. Jacob Nicolds drained a 3-pointer to push the Dixie State lead to 18-9 before CSUN scored six unanswered points with four coming from Darius Beane. Darius Brown II would hit a 3-pointer to pull CSUN to within one but Dixie State countered with an 11-0 run to push its lead to its biggest margin of the half at 30-18.Â
Wright ended a near four-minute dry spell with two free throws, which would spark a Matador 13-2 run. Fidelis Okereke threw down a dunk to pull CSUN to within six before Miles James found the bottom of the net from long range. With the lead down to one, Hardy picked up a steal and two free throws to give CSUN its first lead since the opening seconds of the half. The Trailblazers though went into the half leading as Cameron Gooden converted on a late layup to give Dixie State a 38-36 advantage at intermission.
In a similar fashion to the first half, the Trailblazers took advantage of a CSUN slow start to extend their lead. Both Hunter Schofield and Dancell Leter converted on traditional 3-point plays to put CSUN into a 44-36 deficit. The lead later swelled to nine points (47-38) on a layup from Gooden at the 16:14 mark of the second half. CSUN though had an answer as Harrick and Wright drilled 3-pointers and Eyisi scored in the paint to help complete a 10-0 Matador run. Wright put the Matadors in front again on a 3-pointer at 51-49 near the midway point of the half.
Despite falling behind, Dixie State remained within striking distance thanks in large part to free throw shooting as the Trailblazers made 18-of-21 at the charity stripe in the second half. Gooden made a pair of free throws with 3:39 remaining to bring Dixie State to within one point (64-63). However, CSUN would make key plays down the stretch to hold off the Trailblazers. Eyisi scored back-to-back baskets with under three minutes to play including a crucial 3-point play that pushed the lead to five. Wright then made a timely 3-pointer to give CSUN its biggest lead (75-68) with 44 seconds remaining. Both Kailen Rains and Brown converted on late free throws, helping clinch a CSUN win.
GAME NOTES
Hardy earned all-tournament honors for his performances at the Good Sam Empire Classic. He averaged 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the Matadors' two games at the event.
Christian Gray pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds including five offensive boards and added five points in 23 minutes of action. Harrick went 4-of-6 from 3-point range in the victory. Wright scored 11 of his 18 points after halftime.
For Dixie State, Cameron Gooden finished with 20 points and eight rebounds as he also earned all-tournament honors.
COACH TRENT JOHNSON POST-GAME COMMENTS
"It was painful what happened yesterday afternoon so I was concerned, and rightfully so, because they care and they know they didn't play to their expectations and our expectations, and we let a game get away. It was a sluggish start, we were out of rhythm but I thought with as many guys as we played, they found a way to make plays and make plays for each other."
UP NEXT
The Matadors conclude a three-game homestand with a Wednesday afternoon game against Saint Katherine. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. on ESPN+ with Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister on the call.
#UniteTheValley
Â
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