CSUN Returns to The Matadome this Week to Host UC Davis, UC Riverside

FULL GAME NOTES

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball (5-10, 1-2 Big West) will open a three-game homestand at The Matadome beginning this week. The Matadors take on UC Davis to kick off the home stretch on Thursday at 7 p.m. before hosting UC Riverside on Saturday at 7 p.m. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister are on the call on ESPN+ and GoMatadors.com/Radio for both conference games.

The Matadors will conclude their homestand on Jan. 25 against UC Santa Barbara. After the game, CSUN will then make the trek to Hawai'i for a quick turnaround game on Jan. 27, concluding a stretch where the team will play four games over eight days.

UC Davis leads CSUN in the all-time series 25-21 heading into Thursday. The teams split their season series last season with both games taking place at The Matadome. The Matadors won the opener of the series 80-77 before falling a day later to the Aggies 75-63. UC Davis has won 14 of the last 16 meetings in the series but the teams have split the last four games played at The Matadome. Over the past few seasons, the teams have played in several close games as nine of the last 13 meetings have been decided by 10 points or fewer with two games going into overtime.

In a series dating back to 1960, CSUN leads UC Riverside 46-38. Last season, UCR took its first series from CSUN since 2011 with back-to-back wins in The Matadome. The Highlanders won the opener 72-68 and rallied to beat the Matadors 66-65 in game two. Despite the series loss last season, the Matadors have won four of the last six meetings and eight of the last 11 overall. Five of the last six games in the series have also been decided by five points or fewer.

CSUN suffered back-to-back losses last week on the road to fall to 1-2 in Big West play. The Matadors fell at Cal State Fullerton 79-64 on Thursday before dropping a 71-55 decision at Long Beach State on Saturday. While losing by double digits twice, the Matadors were within striking distance in both games early in the second half but in each game, the home team pulled away down the stretch. CSUN led 43-42 against Cal State Fullerton before the Titans went on an 18-5 run to turn the tide of the contest. The Beach would break open a one-point game at halftime with an 8-0 run to start the second half and never looked back.

Miles James was a bright spot against Cal State Fullerton as he scored a season-high 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Onyi Eyisi would record a double-double in the loss to Long Beach State, his first as a Matador, with 10 points and 10 rebounds while Atin Wright netted a team-high 14 points.

Heading into the week, Wright is 10th in the Big West in points per game (12.6) while he is ranked fifth in the nation in free throw percentage (93.2). Elijah Hardy is second in the conference in steals per game (1.6) and ninth in assists per game (2.8) to go with his 10.5 points. Eyisi is also scoring in double figures at 10.3 points per game.

A Closer Look at UC Davis
The Aggies (7-5, 0-1 Big West) officially played their first Big West Conference game on Jan. 15 at Cal Poly, falling 82-74. UC Davis has already had four conference games canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. The Aggies are 3-3 on the road with their wins coming against Utah State, Oregon State and Pacific. Head coach Jim Les is in his 11th season leading the Aggies.

Elijah Pepper is fourth in the Big West in points per game (15.3) while he is third in the league in steals per game (1.6). Ezra Manjon is also among the Big West leaders in several categories as he is fifth in assists per game (3.5) and assists-to-turnover ratio (1.3), seventh in steals per game (1.3) and eighth in points per game (14.3). On the glass, Christian Anigwe is eighth in the league in rebounds per game (6.4) while he scores 11.6 points. Caleb Fuller is also scoring in double figures at 11.4 points per game. As a team, UC Davis is third in the Big West in 3-point field goal percentage (34.9).

A Closer Look at UC Riverside
The Highlanders (9-5, 2-1 Big West) swept their two-game road trip last week, defeating Cal Poly (57-46) and CSU Bakersfield (65-64). In total, the team has had two conference games canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. The Highlanders are 4-4 on the road this season, which includes a victory over Arizona State. Head coach Mike Magpayo is in his second season leading the Highlanders.

Zyon Pullin leads the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game while he is third in the Big West in assists per game (4.2) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9). Callum McRae is tops in the Big West in rebounds per game (8.5) to go with his 9.1 points. Two other Highlanders are scoring in double figures, which includes JP Moorman II (11.1) and Flynn Cameron (10.8). The Highlanders are second in the Big West in scoring defense (59.0 points per game) and field goal percentage defense (39.6).

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CSUN Returns to The Matadome this Week to Host UC Davis, UC Riverside

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Players Mentioned

Onyi Eyisi

Elijah Hardy

Miles James

Atin Wright