Saturday, December 10
Northridge, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
vs
Northern Colorado
Photo by: Connor Clark
CSUN Opens Three-Game Homestand Saturday vs. Northern Colorado
12/9/2022 10:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FULL GAME NOTES
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball (2-6) opens its longest homestand of the season this weekend when the Matadors take on Northern Colorado. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. on Saturday night. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call on ESPN+ and GoMatadors.com/Radio.
LAST TIME OUT
CSUN once again played in another close contest on the road on Wednesday as the Matadors fell by a 65-56 decision at Fresno State. The Matadors led 30-29 at halftime, shooting 48.0 percent from the field. However, CSUN suffered from 33.3 percent shooting in the second half while the Bulldogs pulled in front with outside shooting.
The Matadors trailed by just 53-51 with three minutes to go but a pivotal six-point swing turned the tide of the contest. With CSUN down four, Dionte Bostick hit a 3-pointer, however, his basket was waived off after stepping out of bounds. Fresno State would convert on a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, its fifth of the second half, to help seal a victory.
De'Sean Allen-Eikens led the way with a double-double, posting 20 points and 12 rebounds. Atin Wright added 13 points while Ethan Igbanugo chipped in with eight points.
MATADOR HEADLINES
The Matadors are among The Big West leaders in defensive numbers this season. The team is third in the league in opponent field goal percentage (38.8) and 3-point percentage (.292) while its scoring defense is fourth (63.0 PPG). CSUN leads the conference in least turnovers per game (11.1) and free throw percentage (73.6) and ranks fourth in rebounds per game (38.9).
Three Matadors are ranked in the top-15 in points per game as Dionte Bostick is 13th (13.3) and Atin Wright and De'Sean Allen-Eikens are tied for 15th (12.5). Wright is also ranked in second place in free throw percentage (88.5) and in eighth in steals per game (1.6). Onyi Eyisi, who has missed the last two games, remains in seventh place in rebounds per game (7.2). Bostick comes in 10th place in assists per game (3.1) and assists to turnover ratio (1.0).
CSUN's longest homestand of the season will wrap up non-conference play this month. After finals week, the Matadors will host Idaho on Dec. 19 before taking on San Diego at Premier America Credit Union Arena on Dec. 22. The end of the month will represent the start of Big West play as CSUN visits Cal Poly in the league opener on Dec. 29. The Matadors wrap up the calendar year with a New Year's Eve matchup at Cal State Fullerton.
SERIES HISTORY
CSUN has played Northern Colorado just twice in its history with the Matadors posting a pair of wins. The teams last played on Nov. 26, 2005 with CSUN coming out on top 82-73 in a neutral-site game. Mike Efevberha led CSUN in scoring in that win with an 18-point effort. The Matadors also were victorious on Dec. 6, 1974 in a 97-83 win in Northern Colorado. Saturday will be the first meeting between the two programs at Premier America Credit Union Arena.
SCOUTING NORTHERN COLORADO
The Bears handed Colorado State an 88-83 defeat last Saturday to improve to 4-5 on the season. UNC has also defeated Texas A&M-Commerce (80-77), North Dakota State (80-70) and Jacksonville State (86-82). Last season, UNC went 22-16 with a 13-7 record in the Big Sky. The Bears advanced to the 2022 College Basketball Invitational after falling in the Big Sky Tournament title game. Prior to this season, UNC was picked to finish second in the Big Sky this season by league coaches and media members. Head coach Steve Smiley is in his third season leading the program.
Dalton Knecht tops the team in points per game (17.4) and rebounds per game (7.8) while he shoots 50.0 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from 3-point range (19-of-50). A Preseason All-Big Sky honoree, Daylen Kountz is a close second in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game. Other double digit scorers include Matt Johnson II (13.2 PPG) and Caleb Shaw (10.4 PPG). Johnson has also made a team-high 26 3-point field goals. As a team, UNC averages 71.6 points per game and shoot 36.1 percent from 3-point range.
#UniteTheValley
Â
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball (2-6) opens its longest homestand of the season this weekend when the Matadors take on Northern Colorado. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. on Saturday night. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call on ESPN+ and GoMatadors.com/Radio.
LAST TIME OUT
CSUN once again played in another close contest on the road on Wednesday as the Matadors fell by a 65-56 decision at Fresno State. The Matadors led 30-29 at halftime, shooting 48.0 percent from the field. However, CSUN suffered from 33.3 percent shooting in the second half while the Bulldogs pulled in front with outside shooting.
The Matadors trailed by just 53-51 with three minutes to go but a pivotal six-point swing turned the tide of the contest. With CSUN down four, Dionte Bostick hit a 3-pointer, however, his basket was waived off after stepping out of bounds. Fresno State would convert on a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, its fifth of the second half, to help seal a victory.
De'Sean Allen-Eikens led the way with a double-double, posting 20 points and 12 rebounds. Atin Wright added 13 points while Ethan Igbanugo chipped in with eight points.
MATADOR HEADLINES
The Matadors are among The Big West leaders in defensive numbers this season. The team is third in the league in opponent field goal percentage (38.8) and 3-point percentage (.292) while its scoring defense is fourth (63.0 PPG). CSUN leads the conference in least turnovers per game (11.1) and free throw percentage (73.6) and ranks fourth in rebounds per game (38.9).
Three Matadors are ranked in the top-15 in points per game as Dionte Bostick is 13th (13.3) and Atin Wright and De'Sean Allen-Eikens are tied for 15th (12.5). Wright is also ranked in second place in free throw percentage (88.5) and in eighth in steals per game (1.6). Onyi Eyisi, who has missed the last two games, remains in seventh place in rebounds per game (7.2). Bostick comes in 10th place in assists per game (3.1) and assists to turnover ratio (1.0).
CSUN's longest homestand of the season will wrap up non-conference play this month. After finals week, the Matadors will host Idaho on Dec. 19 before taking on San Diego at Premier America Credit Union Arena on Dec. 22. The end of the month will represent the start of Big West play as CSUN visits Cal Poly in the league opener on Dec. 29. The Matadors wrap up the calendar year with a New Year's Eve matchup at Cal State Fullerton.
SERIES HISTORY
CSUN has played Northern Colorado just twice in its history with the Matadors posting a pair of wins. The teams last played on Nov. 26, 2005 with CSUN coming out on top 82-73 in a neutral-site game. Mike Efevberha led CSUN in scoring in that win with an 18-point effort. The Matadors also were victorious on Dec. 6, 1974 in a 97-83 win in Northern Colorado. Saturday will be the first meeting between the two programs at Premier America Credit Union Arena.
SCOUTING NORTHERN COLORADO
The Bears handed Colorado State an 88-83 defeat last Saturday to improve to 4-5 on the season. UNC has also defeated Texas A&M-Commerce (80-77), North Dakota State (80-70) and Jacksonville State (86-82). Last season, UNC went 22-16 with a 13-7 record in the Big Sky. The Bears advanced to the 2022 College Basketball Invitational after falling in the Big Sky Tournament title game. Prior to this season, UNC was picked to finish second in the Big Sky this season by league coaches and media members. Head coach Steve Smiley is in his third season leading the program.
Dalton Knecht tops the team in points per game (17.4) and rebounds per game (7.8) while he shoots 50.0 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from 3-point range (19-of-50). A Preseason All-Big Sky honoree, Daylen Kountz is a close second in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game. Other double digit scorers include Matt Johnson II (13.2 PPG) and Caleb Shaw (10.4 PPG). Johnson has also made a team-high 26 3-point field goals. As a team, UNC averages 71.6 points per game and shoot 36.1 percent from 3-point range.
#UniteTheValley
Â
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ 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