Monday, November 21
San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
12:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
1-3,0-0Big West
73
vs
74
Tennessee State
4-1,0-0OVC
1
2
F
CSUN
41
32
73
Tennessee St.
40
34
74
Photo by: Will Navarro
Matadors Drop Close Battle to Tennessee State, 74-73
11/21/2022 2:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball dropped a 74-73 heartbreaker to Tennessee State at the SoCal Challenge on Monday at JSerra Pavilion. Dionte Bostick led the way with 24 points and five rebounds while Atin Wright had 14 points and De'Sean Allen-Eikens chipped in with 12 points.
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The teams traded baskets in the early minutes of the game before five-straight Tiger points gave Tennessee State a 13-6 lead. TSU led for most of the first half, eventually building as big a lead as 11 points (24-13). CSUN though battled back behind its backcourt of Bostick and Wright, who combined for 24 points.
After Wright sank a pair of free throws, Bostick would drain a 3-pointer to bring the Matadors to within 34-29 at the 3:51 mark of the first half. CSUN would close the first half on a 12-4 run beginning with a long range basket from Wright. Ethan Igbanugo pulled the Matadors to within one with a trey in the final minute of play before Bostick beat the halftime buzzer with a drive to give CSUN its first lead of 41-40.
Out of halftime, Bostick picked up a steal and a basket to give CSUN its biggest lead at 43-40, but the Tigers responded with a trey from Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. With the game tied at 47-47 at the 15-minute mark, Tennessee State picked up a pair of 3-pointers from Christian Brown to quickly go ahead by six. Wright would bring the Matadors to within two with nine minutes to play before Tennessee State extended to an eight-point lead with six in a row.
CSUN though held the Tigers off the scoreboard over the next three possessions while countering with a 7-0 run to pull to within one. Jr. Clay stopped the scoreless string with a basket, but Bostick helped give the Matadors a lead over the next two possessions. Bostick drilled a jumper in the paint to cut the lead to one then he found Allen-Eikens for an easy basket on the next time down the floor for a CSUN 71-70 lead.
After TSU went back in front on a pair of free throws, Dearon Tucker earned his way to the free throw line as well where he made two giving CSUN a 73-72 edge. However, Fitzgerald gave the Tigers the lead right back on the ensuing possession. The Tigers missed a late 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to play, resulting in an Igbanugo defensive rebound and one last opportunity for the Matadors. On the final possession, Bostick had a mid-range look at the basket, but his shot went just off the mark. CSUN could not get up a final shot in the final seconds as the Tigers held on for the victory.
GAME NOTES
The Matadors finished shooting 44.9 percent from the field while going 5-of-15 from the 3-point arc (33.3 percent). On the flip side, the Tigers shot 47.4 percent for the game and made 8-of-23 from downtown (34.8 percent). At the free throw line, CSUN made 24-30 (80.0 percent) compared to Tennessee State which made 12-of-20 (60.0 percent). CSUN out-rebounded TSU 38-28 while the Tigers led in points in the paint (34-28).
Dionte Bostick finished 9-of-13 from the field while adding five rebounds and two assists. Atin Wright went 3-of-7 from 3-point range. De'Sean Allen-Eikens led the team in rebounding with seven to go with two blocks.
For Tennessee State, Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. had a team-high 17 points.
ACCORDING TO COACH TRENT JOHNSON
 "We had good effort. Any time you score 73 points against a team like this [you'll take it]. The problem lies on the defensive end. Like I told them, it's painful right now because you've invested a lot but coming into the game and fouling on three-point shooters for a four-point turnaround, and giving up offensive rebounds - things of that nature just magnify. We've got to understand how many games we are going to be in like this and those things are crucial."
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UP NEXT
CSUN wraps up play at the SoCal Challenge on Wednesday at noon against Central Michigan. The game will stream via FloHoops while Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
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#UniteTheValley
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The teams traded baskets in the early minutes of the game before five-straight Tiger points gave Tennessee State a 13-6 lead. TSU led for most of the first half, eventually building as big a lead as 11 points (24-13). CSUN though battled back behind its backcourt of Bostick and Wright, who combined for 24 points.
After Wright sank a pair of free throws, Bostick would drain a 3-pointer to bring the Matadors to within 34-29 at the 3:51 mark of the first half. CSUN would close the first half on a 12-4 run beginning with a long range basket from Wright. Ethan Igbanugo pulled the Matadors to within one with a trey in the final minute of play before Bostick beat the halftime buzzer with a drive to give CSUN its first lead of 41-40.
Out of halftime, Bostick picked up a steal and a basket to give CSUN its biggest lead at 43-40, but the Tigers responded with a trey from Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. With the game tied at 47-47 at the 15-minute mark, Tennessee State picked up a pair of 3-pointers from Christian Brown to quickly go ahead by six. Wright would bring the Matadors to within two with nine minutes to play before Tennessee State extended to an eight-point lead with six in a row.
CSUN though held the Tigers off the scoreboard over the next three possessions while countering with a 7-0 run to pull to within one. Jr. Clay stopped the scoreless string with a basket, but Bostick helped give the Matadors a lead over the next two possessions. Bostick drilled a jumper in the paint to cut the lead to one then he found Allen-Eikens for an easy basket on the next time down the floor for a CSUN 71-70 lead.
After TSU went back in front on a pair of free throws, Dearon Tucker earned his way to the free throw line as well where he made two giving CSUN a 73-72 edge. However, Fitzgerald gave the Tigers the lead right back on the ensuing possession. The Tigers missed a late 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to play, resulting in an Igbanugo defensive rebound and one last opportunity for the Matadors. On the final possession, Bostick had a mid-range look at the basket, but his shot went just off the mark. CSUN could not get up a final shot in the final seconds as the Tigers held on for the victory.
GAME NOTES
The Matadors finished shooting 44.9 percent from the field while going 5-of-15 from the 3-point arc (33.3 percent). On the flip side, the Tigers shot 47.4 percent for the game and made 8-of-23 from downtown (34.8 percent). At the free throw line, CSUN made 24-30 (80.0 percent) compared to Tennessee State which made 12-of-20 (60.0 percent). CSUN out-rebounded TSU 38-28 while the Tigers led in points in the paint (34-28).
Dionte Bostick finished 9-of-13 from the field while adding five rebounds and two assists. Atin Wright went 3-of-7 from 3-point range. De'Sean Allen-Eikens led the team in rebounding with seven to go with two blocks.
For Tennessee State, Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. had a team-high 17 points.
ACCORDING TO COACH TRENT JOHNSON
 "We had good effort. Any time you score 73 points against a team like this [you'll take it]. The problem lies on the defensive end. Like I told them, it's painful right now because you've invested a lot but coming into the game and fouling on three-point shooters for a four-point turnaround, and giving up offensive rebounds - things of that nature just magnify. We've got to understand how many games we are going to be in like this and those things are crucial."
Â
UP NEXT
CSUN wraps up play at the SoCal Challenge on Wednesday at noon against Central Michigan. The game will stream via FloHoops while Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
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#UniteTheValley
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Team Stats
CSUN
TSU
FG%
.449
.474
3FG%
.333
.348
FT%
.800
.600
RB
38
29
TO
10
8
STL
5
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
8
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
G
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