Saturday, January 21
Northridge, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
4-16,1-8Big West
69
vs
66
Cal State Fullerton
10-11,4-5Big West
1
2
OT 1
F
Cal St. Fullerton
33
28
5
66
CSUN
29
32
8
69
Photo by: Connor Clark
Matadors Knock Off Fullerton in Overtime Thriller
1/21/2023 9:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Behind a season-high 22 points from De'Sean Allen-Eikens, CSUN Men's Basketball (4-16, 1-8 Big West) prevailed in overtime over Cal State Fullerton (10-11, 4-5 Big West) 69-66 on Saturday at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Atin Wright poured in 18 points including two late made free throws to help send the game to the extra session. The Matadors made a season-high 12 3-pointers in the contest with Allen-Eikens hitting 5-of-7.
Allen-Eikens set the tone for the Matadors with back-to-back threes to kick off the game for a 6-0 lead. The Matadors would make six of their first eight attempts from long range with Allen-Eikens sinking four of those. CSUN led by as many as eight points after Dearon Tucker made two free throws with less than seven minutes to play in the opening period.
The Titans though ended the half in strong fashion to pull in front. A 10-2 run, capped by a Vincent Lee basket evened the game at 27-27. Late in the period, the Matadors led by two but Garrison Wade and Jalen Harris knocked down 3-pointers to give the visitors a 33-29 edge at intermission.
Cal State Fullerton extended their lead to six points early in the second half on a Lee dunk on the fast break. After a CSUN timeout, Marcel Stevens drained a three then Wright scored off a Titan turnover to pull CSUN to within one. The Matadors would take a 43-42 lead on another 3-point shot, this time from Ethan Igbanugo with 13:59 left to play.
The lead would switch hands nine more times in the second half after Igbanugo's three until the Titans went on a 6-0 run to take a 60-55 lead with 2:26 remaining. Allen-Eikens again came up big with a timely 3-pointer to bring the Matadors to within two. After each team made one free throw apiece, Wright earned his way to the free throw line with 47 seconds remaining and the Matadors down 61-59. Wright would calmly knock down both free throws, tying the game once more.
The Matadors forced a Titan turnover in the final seconds but could not get up a shot before the final buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
Igbanugo opened up OT with a layup before Wright followed with a 3-pointer for a 66-61 lead for CSUN. The Matadors held the Titans without a field goal for the first four minutes of overtime until Max Jones nailed a trey to trim the Matador lead to 68-66. CSUN would come up empty on its next possession but picked up another defensive stop leading to Allen-Eikens drawing a foul with two seconds left.
Allen-Eikens made 1-of-2 at the free throw line and the Matadors withstood a last second 3-point attempt from Harris to clinch the win.
GAME NOTES
In all, there were 12 lead changes and 10 ties in the contest. CSUN shot 41.5 percent for the game while making 12-of-30 from 3-point range (40.0 percent) and 13-of-19 at the free throw line (68.4 percent). Cal State Fullerton finished shooting 39.2 percent and made 9-of-21 from long range (42.9) to go with 17-of-28 shooting at the foul line (60.7 percent). The teams both finished with 35 rebounds.
De'Sean Allen-Eikens tied a career high with his 22 points as he previously set his personal best in scoring while at North Dakota in his first collegiate game on Nov. 7, 2019. Dionte Bostick chipped in with eight points and six assists while Ethan Igbanugo had eight points and six rebounds in 30 minutes before fouling out in overtime.
For Fullerton, Max Jones had a team-high 18 points.
ACCORDING TO COACH TRENT JOHNSON
"Obviously, a very happy locker room. They've been battling and staying the course. Fullerton is a good basketball team and they went to the NCAA Tournament last year so we have to build on this. I just liked the competitive spirit and courage they showed. For me, I'm just happy for them, we beat a good team."
"I know we've been in a lot of close games and everybody likes winning but these kids deserve to be supported because they're battling all of the time. These student-athletes are doing a heck of a job."
UP NEXT
CSUN stays at home and will host UC San Diego on Thursday, Jan. 26. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister are on the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio beginning at 6:50 p.m.
#UniteTheValley
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Allen-Eikens set the tone for the Matadors with back-to-back threes to kick off the game for a 6-0 lead. The Matadors would make six of their first eight attempts from long range with Allen-Eikens sinking four of those. CSUN led by as many as eight points after Dearon Tucker made two free throws with less than seven minutes to play in the opening period.
The Titans though ended the half in strong fashion to pull in front. A 10-2 run, capped by a Vincent Lee basket evened the game at 27-27. Late in the period, the Matadors led by two but Garrison Wade and Jalen Harris knocked down 3-pointers to give the visitors a 33-29 edge at intermission.
Cal State Fullerton extended their lead to six points early in the second half on a Lee dunk on the fast break. After a CSUN timeout, Marcel Stevens drained a three then Wright scored off a Titan turnover to pull CSUN to within one. The Matadors would take a 43-42 lead on another 3-point shot, this time from Ethan Igbanugo with 13:59 left to play.
The lead would switch hands nine more times in the second half after Igbanugo's three until the Titans went on a 6-0 run to take a 60-55 lead with 2:26 remaining. Allen-Eikens again came up big with a timely 3-pointer to bring the Matadors to within two. After each team made one free throw apiece, Wright earned his way to the free throw line with 47 seconds remaining and the Matadors down 61-59. Wright would calmly knock down both free throws, tying the game once more.
The Matadors forced a Titan turnover in the final seconds but could not get up a shot before the final buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
Igbanugo opened up OT with a layup before Wright followed with a 3-pointer for a 66-61 lead for CSUN. The Matadors held the Titans without a field goal for the first four minutes of overtime until Max Jones nailed a trey to trim the Matador lead to 68-66. CSUN would come up empty on its next possession but picked up another defensive stop leading to Allen-Eikens drawing a foul with two seconds left.
Allen-Eikens made 1-of-2 at the free throw line and the Matadors withstood a last second 3-point attempt from Harris to clinch the win.
GAME NOTES
In all, there were 12 lead changes and 10 ties in the contest. CSUN shot 41.5 percent for the game while making 12-of-30 from 3-point range (40.0 percent) and 13-of-19 at the free throw line (68.4 percent). Cal State Fullerton finished shooting 39.2 percent and made 9-of-21 from long range (42.9) to go with 17-of-28 shooting at the foul line (60.7 percent). The teams both finished with 35 rebounds.
De'Sean Allen-Eikens tied a career high with his 22 points as he previously set his personal best in scoring while at North Dakota in his first collegiate game on Nov. 7, 2019. Dionte Bostick chipped in with eight points and six assists while Ethan Igbanugo had eight points and six rebounds in 30 minutes before fouling out in overtime.
For Fullerton, Max Jones had a team-high 18 points.
ACCORDING TO COACH TRENT JOHNSON
"Obviously, a very happy locker room. They've been battling and staying the course. Fullerton is a good basketball team and they went to the NCAA Tournament last year so we have to build on this. I just liked the competitive spirit and courage they showed. For me, I'm just happy for them, we beat a good team."
"I know we've been in a lot of close games and everybody likes winning but these kids deserve to be supported because they're battling all of the time. These student-athletes are doing a heck of a job."
UP NEXT
CSUN stays at home and will host UC San Diego on Thursday, Jan. 26. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister are on the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio beginning at 6:50 p.m.
#UniteTheValley
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Team Stats
CSF
CSUN
FG%
.392
.415
3FG%
.429
.400
FT%
.607
.684
RB
35
35
TO
15
13
STL
5
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
5
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
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