Matadors to Honor Nick Herrmann on Thursday vs. LBSU Before Visiting UCR on Saturday

FULL GAME NOTES

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball enters week two of The Big West season this week. The Matadors open their home slate of the league season on Thursday against Long Beach State at 7 p.m. before heading to UC Riverside on Saturday at 5 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ while Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call in audio broadcasts at GoMatadors.com/Radio.

NICK HERRMANN MEMORIAL GAME ON THURSDAY
Together with family members and friends, CSUN will celebrate the late Nick Herrmann prior to Thursday's game against Long Beach State. Fans are encouraged to come early to witness the ceremony scheduled to begin at approximately 6:45 p.m.

A San Diego native, Herrmann was a four-year letterwinner at his hometown Torrey Pines High School. After receiving a cancer diagnosis as a sophomore, Herrmann returned to the court after a year away from the game, and went on to have a storybook senior season with the Falcons. He helped lead the team to a near unbeaten season highlighted by a buzzer beating 3-pointer that clinched the CIF title.

Poised to be a difference maker on the court at CSUN, Herrmann was forced to step away from the game again after learning that the cancer that plagued him in high school returned. While unable to play, Herrmann still supported his team in any way he could last season, often leading the cheering section on the bench.

All season long, both the CSUN Men's and Women's Basketball teams are wearing a patch with Herrmann's initials to commemorate his everlasting impact on the Matador programs.

LAST TIME OUT
CSUN opened Big West play with a pair of losses on the road. The Matadors dropped a 67-57 decision at Cal Poly before falling at Cal State Fullerton, 64-52.

After a slow start, the Matadors would take a 32-31 lead early in the second half against Cal Poly. However, CSUN went without a point for seven minutes during a pivotal stretch while the Mustangs went on a 13-0 run to take control of the contest. The Matadors pulled to within five with two minutes to play but could not get any closer down the stretch.

CSUN again would start a game slow as the Matadors dug an 11-0 hole at Cal State Fullerton. The Matadors battled back, eventually pulling to within 50-45 with 4:57 left to play in the game. CSUN though was hampered by a tough shooting night as the Titans went on a 7-0 run in the closing minutes to pull away with a double-digit win.

MATADOR HEADLINES
Atin Wright has been heating up for the Matadors on the offensive end over the last four games. During that stretch, Wright has scored 20 or more points in three games including a 21-point effort against Cal Poly last Thursday. Wright has improved his scoring average from 12.4 on Dec. 4 to a team-high 15.7 heading into this week.

Wright is sixth in The Big West in scoring average while Dionte Bostick is ranked 14th (12.7) and De'Sean Allen-Eikens is 20th (11.2). Wright, who leads The Big West in free throw percentage (92.2), ranks seventh nationally in the category. Elsewhere on The Big West leaderboard, Allen-Eikens is 12th in the league in rebounds per game (6.0) while Bostick is 10th in assists per game (2.8).

As a team, CSUN is ranked second in The Big West in opponent field goal percentage (39.7) and opponent 3-point field goal percentage (30.9).

SERIES HISTORY
Long Beach State leads CSUN 45-27 in the all-time series with wins over the last three meetings. The Beach swept the season series last season, winning 71-55 at Walter Pyramid and 72-59 at Premier America Credit Union Arena. CSUN's last win over Long Beach State came on Feb. 25, 2020 in a 73-64 road victory.

The Matadors lead UC Riverside 46-40 all time but the Highlanders have swept the last two season series, winning four overall games in a row. UCR prevailed 77-67 in Northridge before taking a 79-57 decision at the SRC Arena. CSUN's last win over UCR took place on Feb. 8, 2020 by a 61-59 decision.

SCOUTING LONG BEACH STATE
The Beach come in with a 6-8 overall record and 0-2 mark in Big West play after a pair of heartbreaking losses at home last week to UC San Diego (85-83) and UC Riverside (73-72). Long Beach State has gone 3-5 away from home this season, which included a season-opening win at California Baptist. After winning The Big West regular season title last season, LBSU was picked to finish third by the conference's head coaches. Dan Monson is in his 16th season as head coach of the program.

Three players are scoring in doubles figures led by Preseason All-Big West honoree Joel Murray who averages 16.0 points per game. Other double figure scorers include Marcus Tsohonis (12.1) and Lassina Traore (10.0). Traore leads The Big West in rebounds per game (8.8) followed by his teammate Aboubacar Traore in second place (8.6). As a team, LBSU is second in the league in rebounds per game (40.6) and third in points per game (75.4).

SCOUTING UC RIVERSIDE
The Highlanders improved to 9-5 overall and 2-0 in Big West play after wins over CSU Bakersfield (71-59) and Long Beach State (73-72). UCR has won three-straight games, which includes a win over Portland (76-65). The Highlanders have won three of four games at the SRC Arena this season. Prior to the season, UCR was picked to finish fifth in the league. Head coach Mike Magpayo is in his third season leading the program.

Zyon Pullin leads The Big West in points per game (19.6) while he is fourth in assists per game (4.1). Other double digit scorers include Flynn Cameron (10.2) and Lachlan Olbrich (10.0). Cameron and Olbrich are tied for the team lead in rebounding (5.3). As a team, UCR is ranked fourth in the conference in scoring at 73.3 points per game.

#UniteTheValley

Matadors to Honor Nick Herrmann on Thursday vs. LBSU Before Visiting UCR on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

De'Sean Allen-Eikens

Dionte Bostick

Nick Herrmann

Atin Wright