Saturday, February 19
Northridge, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
7-18,3-9Big Wes
73
vs
81
Cal State Fullerton
16-8,9-3Big Wes
1
2
F
Cal St. Fullerton
42
39
81
CSUN
36
37
73
Team Stats
CSF
CSUN
FG%
.588
.519
3FG%
.368
.500
FT%
.875
.750
RB
34
16
TO
16
8
STL
4
8
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
6
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Will Navarro
CSUN Battles but Falls Short to Cal State Fullerton, 81-73
2/19/2022 10:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball (7-18, 3-9 Big West) shot a season-high field goal percentage and received 28 points from Atin Wright but it was not enough to overcome Cal State Fullerton (16-8, 9-3 Big West) in an 81-73 defeat on Saturday at The Matadome. Wright matched his career-high in points in the game while Onyi Eyisi chipped in with 12 points and three rebounds.
The Matadors shot 51.9 percent from the field while the Titans finished with a 58.8 shooting percentage. CSUN made 8-of-16 from 3-point range compared to Cal State Fullerton, which made 7-of-19 (36.8 percent). At the free throw line, Fullerton made 14-of-16 (87.5 percent) while CSUN connected on 9-of-12 attempts (75.0 percent). On the glass, it was all Fullerton on the night as the Titans held a 34-16 advantage. CSUN led in points off turnovers, 24-16.
GAME BREAKDOWN
Eyisi kicked off CSUN's offense with back-to-back shots to start the game as the Matadors led until the 15:54 mark of the first half. E.J. Anosilke would connect on a three-point play before Ibrahim Famouke Doumbia scored on a layup to give the Titans their first lead. The Matadors kept pace with the high-scoring Titans throughout the first half despite 57 percent shooting. Elijah Hardy would get into the scoring act with a jumper to bring CSUN to within 18-16 at the 10:43 mark.
However, the Matadors would go without a basket for two minutes while the Titans soared offensively. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. capped a 9-0 Titan run that put the Matadors in a 27-16 hole. CSUN battled back though behind 3-point shooting. Darius Beane and Miles James both sank shots from long range before Wright drained a 3-pointer of his own to bring CSUN closer at 35-31. Stevens connected on his first career 3-pointer with 41 seconds to play in the first half, making it a four-point game but Damari Milsead made two late free throws to send the Titans to a 42-36 halftime lead.
After picking up a pair of defensive stops, Christian Gray brought CSUN to within four points on a jump shot but Anosike answered for the Titans with a three-point play on the ensuing possession. Fullerton continued to find success in the paint as three consecutive baskets in the lane quickly pushed the lead to double-digits at 51-39. Wright attempted to keep the Matadors in the game, scoring five consecutive points before Stevens hit another 3-pointer to once again bring CSUN to within six at 53-47.
Wright had 19 points in the second half for the Matadors but the Titans countered with strong play of their own offensively. Anosike scored 13 of his 24 points in the final period as he answered a Wright 3-pointer with a basket to push the lead to 57-50. Fullerton then capitalized on an offensive foul called on Stevens to go back up by 10 on a trey from Jalen Harris. The lead swelled to 15 points on a 3-pointer from Tory San Antonio before the Matadors responded with a 15-7 run, keyed by Wright. The 6-1 guard scored nine consecutive CSUN points during one stretch, however, the Matadors were unable to pull closer than seven points the rest of the way.
GAME NOTES
Wright's 28 points match his career-high he set on Dec. 18 against Portland State. Stevens finished with a season-high six points to go with two assists and a steal. James and Gray both finished with seven points apiece.
For Fullerton, Anosike had a game-high 24 points on 9-of-9 field goals and 6-of-7 shooting at the free throw line. Harris chipped with 16 points.
ACCORDING TO COACH TRENT JOHNSON
"Well, it was 34-16 on the glass. They were 30-of-51 from the field. That pretty much says it right there. We couldn't guard them. It was rebounding and defending and we couldn't get that done. I do want to acknowledge a couple individual performances. I thought Atin did a really good job, this is the second game in a row against high-level teams that are well-coached and physical that he continued to play through. And then, I want to acknowledge Marcel Stevens. He did a really good job. I don't think people realize how much he didn't play last year, and coming out this year he is understanding his role and continuing to get better --- hitting a couple shots but guarding."
UP NEXT
CSUN hits the road next week for a Thursday contest at UC Riverside at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ while Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister are on the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#UniteTheValley
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The Matadors shot 51.9 percent from the field while the Titans finished with a 58.8 shooting percentage. CSUN made 8-of-16 from 3-point range compared to Cal State Fullerton, which made 7-of-19 (36.8 percent). At the free throw line, Fullerton made 14-of-16 (87.5 percent) while CSUN connected on 9-of-12 attempts (75.0 percent). On the glass, it was all Fullerton on the night as the Titans held a 34-16 advantage. CSUN led in points off turnovers, 24-16.
GAME BREAKDOWN
Eyisi kicked off CSUN's offense with back-to-back shots to start the game as the Matadors led until the 15:54 mark of the first half. E.J. Anosilke would connect on a three-point play before Ibrahim Famouke Doumbia scored on a layup to give the Titans their first lead. The Matadors kept pace with the high-scoring Titans throughout the first half despite 57 percent shooting. Elijah Hardy would get into the scoring act with a jumper to bring CSUN to within 18-16 at the 10:43 mark.
However, the Matadors would go without a basket for two minutes while the Titans soared offensively. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. capped a 9-0 Titan run that put the Matadors in a 27-16 hole. CSUN battled back though behind 3-point shooting. Darius Beane and Miles James both sank shots from long range before Wright drained a 3-pointer of his own to bring CSUN closer at 35-31. Stevens connected on his first career 3-pointer with 41 seconds to play in the first half, making it a four-point game but Damari Milsead made two late free throws to send the Titans to a 42-36 halftime lead.
After picking up a pair of defensive stops, Christian Gray brought CSUN to within four points on a jump shot but Anosike answered for the Titans with a three-point play on the ensuing possession. Fullerton continued to find success in the paint as three consecutive baskets in the lane quickly pushed the lead to double-digits at 51-39. Wright attempted to keep the Matadors in the game, scoring five consecutive points before Stevens hit another 3-pointer to once again bring CSUN to within six at 53-47.
Wright had 19 points in the second half for the Matadors but the Titans countered with strong play of their own offensively. Anosike scored 13 of his 24 points in the final period as he answered a Wright 3-pointer with a basket to push the lead to 57-50. Fullerton then capitalized on an offensive foul called on Stevens to go back up by 10 on a trey from Jalen Harris. The lead swelled to 15 points on a 3-pointer from Tory San Antonio before the Matadors responded with a 15-7 run, keyed by Wright. The 6-1 guard scored nine consecutive CSUN points during one stretch, however, the Matadors were unable to pull closer than seven points the rest of the way.
GAME NOTES
Wright's 28 points match his career-high he set on Dec. 18 against Portland State. Stevens finished with a season-high six points to go with two assists and a steal. James and Gray both finished with seven points apiece.
For Fullerton, Anosike had a game-high 24 points on 9-of-9 field goals and 6-of-7 shooting at the free throw line. Harris chipped with 16 points.
ACCORDING TO COACH TRENT JOHNSON
"Well, it was 34-16 on the glass. They were 30-of-51 from the field. That pretty much says it right there. We couldn't guard them. It was rebounding and defending and we couldn't get that done. I do want to acknowledge a couple individual performances. I thought Atin did a really good job, this is the second game in a row against high-level teams that are well-coached and physical that he continued to play through. And then, I want to acknowledge Marcel Stevens. He did a really good job. I don't think people realize how much he didn't play last year, and coming out this year he is understanding his role and continuing to get better --- hitting a couple shots but guarding."
UP NEXT
CSUN hits the road next week for a Thursday contest at UC Riverside at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ while Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister are on the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#UniteTheValley
Â
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