CSUN Visits UCLA, Hosts Montana State to Close Non-Conference

FULL GAME NOTES

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball (7-3) faces a pair of challenges to wrap up non-conference play this week. The Matadors visit UCLA on Tuesday night with tip-off set for 7 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks. CSUN will then close the non-conference portion of its schedule with a home test against Montana State this Friday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN picked up its second-straight win this past Monday with an 80-75 home victory over Utah Tech. The Matadors put together a 17-0 run early in the second half, eventually building a 54-39 lead. However, the Trailblazers fought back and would even the game two separate times. CSUN though picked up timely baskets from De'Sean Allen-Eikens and Jasman Sangha while Keonte Jones had a key block with 1:14 remaining followed by a 3-point play to secure the win. Five Matadors scored in double figures led by Dionte Bostick with 19 points while Jones filled up the stat sheet with 16 points, six rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Allen-Eikens, who missed CSUN's previous game, had 13 points in his return to the court.

BEST START SINCE...
CSUN heads into the week with a 7-3 record, which matches the program's best 10-game start since 2012-13. The Matadors will also enter Big West play with a winning record for just the second time (4-3 record in 2020-21) over its last 10 seasons. Already this season, CSUN set a new Division I school record by winning three consecutive road non-conference games. CSUN previously won three-straight road games in non-conference play in the 1983-84 campaign when it was a Division II program.

RETURNERS LEADING THE WAY
Graduate De'Sean Allen-Eikens has emerged as the team's leading scorer throughout non-conference action, producing four 20-plus point games while averaging a team-best 19.9 points. Allen-Eikens is shooting 51.6 percent from the floor and 37.9 percent from three to go with posting the second-highest rebounding average at 6.4. Another key returner, junior Dionte Bostick is second on the team in scoring at 15.4 points to go with 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Senior center Dearon Tucker has also been a key contributor, averaging 7.9 points on 48.5 percent shooting and 6.2 rebounds per game.

KEONTE'S COMING OUT PARTY
Junior forward Keonte Jones has made noise through his first 10 games. The Midland College transfer tops the team in rebounding at 6.8 per game while he is third in scoring at 13.6 per game. Jones has scored in double figures in nine-straight games and produced a pair of double-doubles on the year. He also leads the squad in total blocks (17) and steals (16) all the while shooting 58.5 percent from the floor.

NEW FACES ON THE BLOCK
Also in his first season at CSUN, junior guard Jordan Brinson has recently taken over as starting point guard and has averaged 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists. In the middle, graduate forward Jasman Sangha has been a force off the bench, producing 7.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in just 17.1 minutes per game. Other key newcomers this season include Jared Barnett who averages 4.1 assists, 3.8 points and 3.4 rebounds along with Mahmoud Fofana who registers 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 points per game.

CONTROLLING THE GLASS
CSUN has been one of the top defensive teams in the nation during the early portion of this season. The Matadors lead The Big West in rebounds per game (45.0), offensive rebounds per game (13.9), defensive rebounds per game (31.1) and rebounding margin (+14.5) while nationally CSUN is near the top of the Division I rankings in similar categories. CSUN is second in the nation in rebound per game and rebounding differential, eighth in defensive rebounding and 25th in offensive rebounding.

ON THE BIG WEST CHARTS
Along with its rebounding, CSUN is first in The Big West in opponent field goal percentage (38.8) and opponent 3-point field goal percentage (29.9). The Matadors are also second in the conference in steals per game (8.2) and blocks per game (3.9) while they are third in scoring (80.4).

Individually, De'Sean Allen-Eikens is third in the conference in points per game (19.9) and sixth in rebounds per game (6.4). Newcomer Keonte Jones ranks second in the league in blocks per game (1.6), fourth in rebounds per game (6.8) and fifth in steals per game (1.7). Dionte Bostick is fourth in The Big West in 3-point field goal percentage (38.9) and 3-point field goals made per game (2.1), sixth in steals per game (1.6) and 11th in points per game (15.4). On the assist list, Jared Barnett is fourth (4.1) and Jordan Brinson is eighth (3.8).

SCOUTING UCLA
The Bruins hold a 5-4 overall record including a perfect 4-0 mark at Pauley Pavilion. This past Saturday, UCLA dropped a 67-60 decision to Ohio State. A season ago, the Bruins advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen after going 31-6 and 18-2 in Pac-12 play. UCLA was tabbed to finish third in the Pac-12 this season. Four Bruins are scoring in double figures led by Sebastian Mack at 13.7 points while Adem Bona is scoring 13.0 points. Bona is also the team's top rebounder at 6.3 per game to go with 14 blocks. As a team, UCLA is sixth in the nation in scoring defense (59.7). Mick Cronin is in his fifth season as head coach of the program.

Series History: UCLA is 9-1 against CSUN in the all-time series with wins in five straight. The teams last met in Nov. 2016 with the Bruins coming out on top 102-87. CSUN's lone win in the series took place on Nov. 21, 2000 in a 78-74 triumph at Pauley Pavilion.

SCOUTING MONTANA STATE
The Bobcats are 4-5 on the season. The team is coming off a 106-81 win over SAGU American Indian College this past Saturday. Montana State has won the past two Big Sky Conference titles, advancing to the NCAA Tournament each season. The team went 25-10 overall last season. Montana State was picked to finish fourth in the Big Sky this season under first-year head coach Matt Logie. Brian Goracke tops the team in scoring at 14.9 points while Robert Ford III is averaging 13.1 points. Ford is the team's top rebounder at 7.8 per game to go with a team-high 29 steals.

Series History: CSUN leads Montana State 11-7 all-time. The teams last met in Nov. 2014 in a CSUN 72-65 win, however that game was later vacated. The Matadors have won four of six decisions at home in the series.

#GoMatadors

CSUN Visits UCLA, Hosts Montana State to Close Non-Conference

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Players Mentioned

De'Sean Allen-Eikens

Jared Barnett

Dionte Bostick

Jordan Brinson

Mahmoud Fofana

Keonte Jones

Jasman Sangha

Dearon Tucker