California State University Northridge Athletics
Saturday, January 1
La Jolla, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
4-8,0-1Big West
64
at
72
UC San Diego
8-5,2-0Big West
1st half1
2nd half2
FinalF
CSUN
34
30
64
UC San Diego
33
39
72
Team Stats
CSUN
UCSD
FG%
.403
.451
3FG%
.231
.333
FT%
.667
.800
RB
36
33
TO
15
18
STL
9
4
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Will Navarro
Short-Handed Matadors Fall at UC San Diego
1/1/2022 9:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LA JOLLA, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball (4-8) fell to UC San Diego 72-64 on Saturday at RIMAC Arena. Atin Wright led all Matador scorers with 16 points while Elijah Hardy added 13 points, five rebounds and three steals. Brendan Harrick posted his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds to go with two blocks. CSUN took a lead into halftime but could not slow down the hot-shooting Tritons in the second period.
The Matadors finished shooting 40.3 percent from the floor but went just 6-of-26 from 3-point range (23.1 percent). In contrast, the Tritons shot 45.1 percent for the game as they connected on 10-of-30 from 3-point range. At the free throw line, the Matadors made 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) while the Tritons feasted at the charity stripe by going 16-of-20 (80.0 percent). CSUN out-rebounded UCSD 36-33.
GAME BREAKDOWN
The Matadors knew they would have to put together a strong effort against a Triton team that came in unbeaten at home. CSUN would be up for the challenge, playing UCSD even in the opening minutes of the game until putting together a 9-0 run to stake to a 19-10 lead. During the run, CSUN held the Tritons scoreless for over four minutes while Darius Beane scored five of CSUN's nine points, highlighted by a steal and dunk on the fast break.
After making just three of their first 14 attempts from the field, the Tritons caught fire and made six consecutive field goals to trim into the CSUN lead. Jake Killingsworth made 4-of-5 from 3-point range in the first half while Bryce Pope chipped in with 10 points. CSUN though maintained its lead behind balanced scoring. Following baskets from Harrick and Wright, Miles James and Christian Gray each got into the scoring act late in the half. UCSD would take a brief one-point lead with 1:43 to play before Gray scored on a putback layup to send CSUN to a 34-33 lead at intermission.Â
The Tritons turned the tables to begin the second half, going on a 7-2 run to quickly build a 40-36 advantage. Harrick slowed the momentum with a jumper to pull CSUN to within two but the Tritons responded with an 8-0 run to go ahead by double digits. The Matadors played from behind throughout the second half but continued to chip away at the lead, eventually pulling to with 50-47 with 7:25 left to play.Â
UCSD though found bottom of the net with regularity, shooting 48 percent in the second half. Jake Kosakowski drilled a 3-pointer at the 6:38 mark then Toni Rocak converted on a traditional 3-point play moments later to push the lead back to seven. The deficit swelled to as many as 12 points with 3:18 left to play following a Rocak layup.
CSUN mounted one final charge in the closing minutes of the game behind its defense. Forcing two turnovers, the Matadors went on a 9-2 run to pull to within 64-59. Hardy had an opportunity to trim the deficit to three with a little over a minute to play but his jumper went off the mark as the Tritons secured the defensive rebound. UCSD would put the game away at the free throw line, making eight attempts over the 1:11 of the game.
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GAME NOTES
CSUN played without center Onyi Eyisi who missed his first game of the season. Interim assistant coach Chris Tifft served as head coach for the contest in place of interim head coach Trent Johnson.
Harrick and Fidelis Okereke each posted a career-high 10 rebounds. Gray went a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and had nine points while Beane scored eight points. Marcel Stevens made his first career field goal in the second half and finished with two points and a steal in 18 minutes.
For UCSD, Killingsworth registered 20 points and 10 rebounds to go with five 3-point made field goals. Pope scored 18 points.
UP NEXT
CSUN is scheduled to return home on Thursday, Jan. 6 against CSU Bakersfield at 7 p.m. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister are on the call on ESPN+ and GoMatadors.com/Radio.
Â
#UniteTheValley
Â
The Matadors finished shooting 40.3 percent from the floor but went just 6-of-26 from 3-point range (23.1 percent). In contrast, the Tritons shot 45.1 percent for the game as they connected on 10-of-30 from 3-point range. At the free throw line, the Matadors made 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) while the Tritons feasted at the charity stripe by going 16-of-20 (80.0 percent). CSUN out-rebounded UCSD 36-33.
GAME BREAKDOWN
The Matadors knew they would have to put together a strong effort against a Triton team that came in unbeaten at home. CSUN would be up for the challenge, playing UCSD even in the opening minutes of the game until putting together a 9-0 run to stake to a 19-10 lead. During the run, CSUN held the Tritons scoreless for over four minutes while Darius Beane scored five of CSUN's nine points, highlighted by a steal and dunk on the fast break.
After making just three of their first 14 attempts from the field, the Tritons caught fire and made six consecutive field goals to trim into the CSUN lead. Jake Killingsworth made 4-of-5 from 3-point range in the first half while Bryce Pope chipped in with 10 points. CSUN though maintained its lead behind balanced scoring. Following baskets from Harrick and Wright, Miles James and Christian Gray each got into the scoring act late in the half. UCSD would take a brief one-point lead with 1:43 to play before Gray scored on a putback layup to send CSUN to a 34-33 lead at intermission.Â
The Tritons turned the tables to begin the second half, going on a 7-2 run to quickly build a 40-36 advantage. Harrick slowed the momentum with a jumper to pull CSUN to within two but the Tritons responded with an 8-0 run to go ahead by double digits. The Matadors played from behind throughout the second half but continued to chip away at the lead, eventually pulling to with 50-47 with 7:25 left to play.Â
UCSD though found bottom of the net with regularity, shooting 48 percent in the second half. Jake Kosakowski drilled a 3-pointer at the 6:38 mark then Toni Rocak converted on a traditional 3-point play moments later to push the lead back to seven. The deficit swelled to as many as 12 points with 3:18 left to play following a Rocak layup.
CSUN mounted one final charge in the closing minutes of the game behind its defense. Forcing two turnovers, the Matadors went on a 9-2 run to pull to within 64-59. Hardy had an opportunity to trim the deficit to three with a little over a minute to play but his jumper went off the mark as the Tritons secured the defensive rebound. UCSD would put the game away at the free throw line, making eight attempts over the 1:11 of the game.
Â
GAME NOTES
CSUN played without center Onyi Eyisi who missed his first game of the season. Interim assistant coach Chris Tifft served as head coach for the contest in place of interim head coach Trent Johnson.
Harrick and Fidelis Okereke each posted a career-high 10 rebounds. Gray went a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and had nine points while Beane scored eight points. Marcel Stevens made his first career field goal in the second half and finished with two points and a steal in 18 minutes.
For UCSD, Killingsworth registered 20 points and 10 rebounds to go with five 3-point made field goals. Pope scored 18 points.
UP NEXT
CSUN is scheduled to return home on Thursday, Jan. 6 against CSU Bakersfield at 7 p.m. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister are on the call on ESPN+ and GoMatadors.com/Radio.
Â
#UniteTheValley
Â
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