CSUN's Upset Bid Falls Just Short at Stanford

Monday, November 6

Stanford, Calif.

8:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

0-1,0-0Big West

Stanford

1-0,0-0Pac-12

CSUN

Stanford

Photo by: Karen Ambrose Hickey / isiphotos.com

CSUN's Upset Bid Falls Just Short at Stanford

11/6/2023 10:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

STANFORD, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball took a four-point lead with less than three minutes to play but a 13-0 Stanford run ended the Matadors' upset bid as the Cardinal prevailed 88-79 in both teams' season opener on Monday at Maples Pavilion. De'Sean Allen-Eikens tied a career-high in scoring with 22 points to go with eight rebounds while Dearon Tucker scored 12 points and Jasman Sangha added 11 off the bench.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cardinal began the game by scoring the game's first four points but CSUN quickly answered with an 11-2 run. The Matadors led most of the way in the first half eventually building a 21-13 edge on a Dionte Bostick jumper. Stanford though battled back with a 7-0 run before tying the game at 24-24 with 9:16 left in the first half. De'Sean Allen-Eikens gave the Matadors the lead right back on a drive to the hoop then baskets from Jared Barnett and Jasman Sangha kept CSUN in front. Stanford evened the game twice and then pulled ahead with an 10-0 run down the stretch of the half. Mahmoud Fofana made a late three to pull CSUN to within 43-38 at halftime.

CSUN fell behind by as many as nine points early in the second half but managed to fight back with strong scoring in the paint. Sangha converted on a pair baskets to help lead the comeback charge while Dearon Tucker later scored in the paint to pull the Matadors to within 54-51. CSUN would surge back ahead after a 7-0 run, highlighted by a dunk from Allen-Eikens. However, Jared Bynum gave the Cardinal the lead right back on the ensuing possession.

The Matadors looked up at a five-point deficit with 7:23 remaining before making one final charge. An Allen-Eikens three-point play followed by a Tucker basket evened the game at 71-71. Moments later, Keonte Jones put CSUN ahead and Bryan Ndjonga drained a 3-pointer, giving the Matadors a 76-72 lead. Jones would complete a thrilling 3-point play with 2:59 remaining as CSUN held a 79-75 advantage.

Keonte Jones AND ONE!

CSUN leads Stanford 79-75 with less than three minutes to go.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/qHQI5zvdpm
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) November 7, 2023

However, an upset was not in the cards. Out of a timeout, Maxime Raynaud scored inside then Michael Jones drained a three to put Stanford ahead once more. CSUN would go cold down the stretch while committing two costly turnovers as Stanford scored the final 13 points to pick up the win.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN finished shooting 47.9 percent for the game while Stanford shot 43.5 percent from the floor. The Matadors made 5-of-15 from 3-point range (33.3 percent) and 6-of-10 at the free throw line. In contrast, Stanford hit 9-of-29 from downtown (31.0 percent) and converted on 19-of-25 at the free throw line (76.0 percent).
The Cardinal held a slight 42-39 edge in rebounding. Stanford also led 18-10 in assists and 7-5 in steals.
CSUN feasted in points in the paint, outscoring Stanford 58-38 while the Matadors also led 23-9 in bench points.
De'Sean Allen-Eikens finished 9-for-18 from the floor and 2-for-4 from three.
Dearon Tucker tied his CSUN scoring high with 12 to go with six rebounds.
Mahmoud Fofana had nine points and six rebounds while freshman Bryan Ndjonga added seven points and three rebounds in 15 minutes.

ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"It was great to see the guys come out with that kind of fight. We're not scared of anybody and that was really good to see. We were close. There are no moral victories in this but I'm really proud of the fight they came out with. If they do that then it's going to be a really good season. Tonight, you're in a one possession game on the road in the Pac-12, I just wish we could have found one more possession there."

UP NEXT
CSUN stays on the road for a Thursday night matchup with Idaho at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call on an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.

#GoMatadors