Thursday, December 29
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
3-9,0-1Big West
57
at
67
Cal Poly
7-6,1-0Big West
1
2
F
CSUN
23
34
57
Cal Poly
28
39
67
Photo by: Cassandra Elena Yra
CSUN Drops Big West Opener at Cal Poly
12/29/2022 8:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.----CSUN Men's Basketball dropped its Big West opener at Cal Poly 67-57 on Thursday at Mott Athletics Center. Atin Wright led the Matadors with 21 points to go with three assists and two steals. Fidelis Okereke added seven points in 24 minutes off the bench.
Â
After Dionte Bostick scored on the game's first possession, the Matadors missed their next five shots as Cal Poly raced out to a 9-2 run. Onyi Eyisi would end a four-minute scoring drought with a basket before consecutive 3-pointers from Ethan Igbanugo and Wright. Near the 13-minute mark, Wright found Okereke for a dunk to cap a 10-3 CSUN run that nodded the game at 12-12.Â
The Mustangs though pulled in front with an 8-2 run beginning the near the midway mark of the first half. Wright's jumper with 5:43 left in the period brought the Matadors to within four but CSUN would go four more minutes without a basket. At the 1:39 mark, Wright ended the dry spell then scored again in the final minute to cut the Cal Poly lead to 28-23 at intermission.
The Matadors came out quickly to start the second half by making four of their first six shots. Igbanugo would score in the lane to give CSUN its first lead since the opening moments of the game at 32-31. However, the Matadors were unable to extend the run as a key seven-minute scoreless drought turned the tide of the contest. CSUN went nine consecutive possessions without a point while Cal Poly went on a 13-0 run. Nick Fleming's steal and layup on the other end extended the lead to 44-32 with 10:23 left to play.
CSUN would end the scoreless string with a 3-pointer from Marcel Stevens then score on its next two possessions, however, Cal Poly countered with baskets on each of its possessions to continue leading by double digits. The Matadors made one final push in the final minutes as Okereke scored on back-to-back trips down the floor to brings CSUN to within 56-49.
The Matadors pulled to within 60-55 with 2:05 left to play on two free throws from Wright but Chance Hunter answered with a driving layup on the ensuing possession. The Mustangs made five free throws in the final minute to help secure the victory.Â
Â
GAME NOTES
CSUN (3-9, 0-1 Big West) shot 44.0 percent for the game while Cal Poly (7-6, 1-0 Big West) finished with a 45.8 shooting percentage. The Matadors made just 4-of-18 from 3-point range (22.2 percent) and 9-of-16 at the free throw line (56.3) compared to the Mustangs who made 6-of-17 behind the 3-point arc (35.3 percent) and 17-of-21 at the free throw line (81.0 percent). Cal Poly won the rebounding battle, 36-25.
Fidelis Okereke tied Tavrion Dawson for ninth place on the CSUN career block list with his 50th rejection on Thursday. De'Sean Allen-Eikens chipped in with a team-high six rebounds to go with six points in defeat.
For Cal Poly, Kobe Sanders had a team-high 17 points.
Â
ACCORDING TO COACH TRENT JOHNSON
"We didn't play very well. Four out of 18 from the three. Offensively, that's probably as bad as we've been this year. I just thought in terms of everything we've worked on - our ball faking and opposite pass, sharing the ball, passing the ball on time and on target - just was not very good. We had a lot of shots, a lot of open shots that were in rhythm that didn't go down. Defensively, to give up 67 on the road. You know what, if we're effective offensively, we're in a good position. I don't want to take anything away from them, but 36-25 on the glass - we haven't been that bad all year long. It just wasn't a very good game all the way around."
UP NEXT
CSUN stays on the road and heads to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ while Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call on GoMatadors.com/Radio.
Â
#UniteTheValley
Â
Â
After Dionte Bostick scored on the game's first possession, the Matadors missed their next five shots as Cal Poly raced out to a 9-2 run. Onyi Eyisi would end a four-minute scoring drought with a basket before consecutive 3-pointers from Ethan Igbanugo and Wright. Near the 13-minute mark, Wright found Okereke for a dunk to cap a 10-3 CSUN run that nodded the game at 12-12.Â
The Mustangs though pulled in front with an 8-2 run beginning the near the midway mark of the first half. Wright's jumper with 5:43 left in the period brought the Matadors to within four but CSUN would go four more minutes without a basket. At the 1:39 mark, Wright ended the dry spell then scored again in the final minute to cut the Cal Poly lead to 28-23 at intermission.
The Matadors came out quickly to start the second half by making four of their first six shots. Igbanugo would score in the lane to give CSUN its first lead since the opening moments of the game at 32-31. However, the Matadors were unable to extend the run as a key seven-minute scoreless drought turned the tide of the contest. CSUN went nine consecutive possessions without a point while Cal Poly went on a 13-0 run. Nick Fleming's steal and layup on the other end extended the lead to 44-32 with 10:23 left to play.
CSUN would end the scoreless string with a 3-pointer from Marcel Stevens then score on its next two possessions, however, Cal Poly countered with baskets on each of its possessions to continue leading by double digits. The Matadors made one final push in the final minutes as Okereke scored on back-to-back trips down the floor to brings CSUN to within 56-49.
The Matadors pulled to within 60-55 with 2:05 left to play on two free throws from Wright but Chance Hunter answered with a driving layup on the ensuing possession. The Mustangs made five free throws in the final minute to help secure the victory.Â
Â
GAME NOTES
CSUN (3-9, 0-1 Big West) shot 44.0 percent for the game while Cal Poly (7-6, 1-0 Big West) finished with a 45.8 shooting percentage. The Matadors made just 4-of-18 from 3-point range (22.2 percent) and 9-of-16 at the free throw line (56.3) compared to the Mustangs who made 6-of-17 behind the 3-point arc (35.3 percent) and 17-of-21 at the free throw line (81.0 percent). Cal Poly won the rebounding battle, 36-25.
Fidelis Okereke tied Tavrion Dawson for ninth place on the CSUN career block list with his 50th rejection on Thursday. De'Sean Allen-Eikens chipped in with a team-high six rebounds to go with six points in defeat.
For Cal Poly, Kobe Sanders had a team-high 17 points.
Â
ACCORDING TO COACH TRENT JOHNSON
"We didn't play very well. Four out of 18 from the three. Offensively, that's probably as bad as we've been this year. I just thought in terms of everything we've worked on - our ball faking and opposite pass, sharing the ball, passing the ball on time and on target - just was not very good. We had a lot of shots, a lot of open shots that were in rhythm that didn't go down. Defensively, to give up 67 on the road. You know what, if we're effective offensively, we're in a good position. I don't want to take anything away from them, but 36-25 on the glass - we haven't been that bad all year long. It just wasn't a very good game all the way around."
UP NEXT
CSUN stays on the road and heads to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ while Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call on GoMatadors.com/Radio.
Â
#UniteTheValley
Â
Team Stats
CSUN
CPO
FG%
.440
.458
3FG%
.222
.353
FT%
.563
.810
RB
25
36
TO
11
11
STL
5
4
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballTexas 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