Thursday, February 23
Northridge, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
7-22,4-14Big West
75
vs
68
CSU Bakersfield
10-18,6-11Big West
1
2
F
CSU Bakersfield
28
40
68
CSUN
40
35
75
Photo by: Connor Clark
Matadors Defeat CSUB as Wright Surpasses 1,000 Career Points
2/23/2023 9:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---On a night where Atin Wright surpassed 1,000 career points, CSUN Men's Basketball won a hard-fought 75-68 decision over CSU Bakersfield on Thursday at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Wright also registered his first career double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes. De'Sean Allen-Eikens scored 16 points and Ethan Igbanugo added 14 points.
Bakersfield used a 7-0 run early in the game to go in front 13-6 near the 13-minute mark of the first half. Allen-Eikens would help fuel a 9-0 Matador run in response as CSUN took its first lead with under 10 minutes on the clock. After Marvin McGhee III knocked down a 3-pointer for a two-point CSUB lead, the Roadrunners would not hold the lead for the remainder of the game. CSUN held CSUB to just 28.0 percent shooting the first half while the Matadors shot an even 50 percent (11-for-22).
During a stretch where Wright scored 10 consecutive Matador points, the 6-1 guard made a pair of threes. After falling behind by nine, Bakersfield pulled to within five twice in the last three minutes of the first half but the Matadors closed the period on a 7-0 run to extend to a double-digit lead. In the closing moments of the half, Marcel Stevens drained a three while Johnnie Walter beat the halftime buzzer with a putback layup for a CSUN 40-28 lead.
The 'Runners battled back into the game, forging an 11-3 run to pull to within four points. CSUN was held without a field goal until the 14:33 mark of the second half when Wright made a mid-range jumper. An Ethan Igbanugo 3-pointer stretched the lead to seven but CSUB's Cameron Smith scored the next five points to pull his team to within 48-46. Needing a basket, CSUN turned to Igbanugo who scored back-to-back field goals to give the Matadors a seven-point lead.
CSUN maintained its lead until the 5:33 mark of the second half as an 11-4 run from the visitors squared the game at 59-59. Moments later, Allen-Eikens broke the tie on a floating jumper in the lane then the Matadors picked up four defensive stops in a row. During that defensive stretch, Wright converted on a pair of free throws and Allen-Eikens scored again to stretch the lead to 65-59.
In the closing minutes, the Matadors knocked down 12 of 14 attempts at the free throw to stay in front. On the defensive end, CSUN held the Roadrunners without a field goal for five full minutes until a late basket with less than a minute to play.
GAME NOTES
CSUN (7-22, 4-14 Big West) shot an even 50.0 percent for the game while making 9-of-15 from 3-point range (60.0 percent) and 28-of-31 from the free throw line (90.3 percent). In contrast, CSU Bakersfield (10-18, 6-11 Big West) would shoot 35.1 percent for the game to go with 2-of-9 shooting from three (22.2 percent) and 26-of-33 shooting at the free throw line (78.8 percent). On the glass, CSUN out-rebounded Bakersfield 38-24. The Roadrunners outscored the Matadors 20-5 in points off turnovers and 32-16 in points in the paint.
Wright becomes the 23rd Matador in school history to reach 1,000 career points. He made 3-of-6 from 3-point range and 13-of-13 at the free throw line. Also in the backcourt, Marcel Stevens dished out a career-high six assists to go with seven points and five rebounds.
For CSUB, Antavion Collum scored a team-high 20 points.
ACCORDING TO COACH TRENT JOHNSON
"I thought defensively we were pretty good, especially in the first half. We were 21-10 on the glass and had 20 deflections in the first half, which is an indicator of active hands and playing with a level of intensity. Obviously, their physical, longer and athletic so in the second half they came out and made it tough. Not that it was ever going to be easy for us. I thought Fidelis, when you look at the box score he had five fouls and four rebounds, his defensive intensity in terms of forcing guys to have to work in the post was good.
We were 28-of-31 at the free throw line. It looked like two teams trying to win and beat each other up. I'm glad we came out on the winning side."
UP NEXT
The Matadors wrap up their road portion of their schedule of the regular season on Saturday against Long Beach State. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio beginning at 3:50 p.m.Â
#UniteTheValley
Â
Bakersfield used a 7-0 run early in the game to go in front 13-6 near the 13-minute mark of the first half. Allen-Eikens would help fuel a 9-0 Matador run in response as CSUN took its first lead with under 10 minutes on the clock. After Marvin McGhee III knocked down a 3-pointer for a two-point CSUB lead, the Roadrunners would not hold the lead for the remainder of the game. CSUN held CSUB to just 28.0 percent shooting the first half while the Matadors shot an even 50 percent (11-for-22).
During a stretch where Wright scored 10 consecutive Matador points, the 6-1 guard made a pair of threes. After falling behind by nine, Bakersfield pulled to within five twice in the last three minutes of the first half but the Matadors closed the period on a 7-0 run to extend to a double-digit lead. In the closing moments of the half, Marcel Stevens drained a three while Johnnie Walter beat the halftime buzzer with a putback layup for a CSUN 40-28 lead.
The 'Runners battled back into the game, forging an 11-3 run to pull to within four points. CSUN was held without a field goal until the 14:33 mark of the second half when Wright made a mid-range jumper. An Ethan Igbanugo 3-pointer stretched the lead to seven but CSUB's Cameron Smith scored the next five points to pull his team to within 48-46. Needing a basket, CSUN turned to Igbanugo who scored back-to-back field goals to give the Matadors a seven-point lead.
CSUN maintained its lead until the 5:33 mark of the second half as an 11-4 run from the visitors squared the game at 59-59. Moments later, Allen-Eikens broke the tie on a floating jumper in the lane then the Matadors picked up four defensive stops in a row. During that defensive stretch, Wright converted on a pair of free throws and Allen-Eikens scored again to stretch the lead to 65-59.
In the closing minutes, the Matadors knocked down 12 of 14 attempts at the free throw to stay in front. On the defensive end, CSUN held the Roadrunners without a field goal for five full minutes until a late basket with less than a minute to play.
GAME NOTES
CSUN (7-22, 4-14 Big West) shot an even 50.0 percent for the game while making 9-of-15 from 3-point range (60.0 percent) and 28-of-31 from the free throw line (90.3 percent). In contrast, CSU Bakersfield (10-18, 6-11 Big West) would shoot 35.1 percent for the game to go with 2-of-9 shooting from three (22.2 percent) and 26-of-33 shooting at the free throw line (78.8 percent). On the glass, CSUN out-rebounded Bakersfield 38-24. The Roadrunners outscored the Matadors 20-5 in points off turnovers and 32-16 in points in the paint.
Wright becomes the 23rd Matador in school history to reach 1,000 career points. He made 3-of-6 from 3-point range and 13-of-13 at the free throw line. Also in the backcourt, Marcel Stevens dished out a career-high six assists to go with seven points and five rebounds.
For CSUB, Antavion Collum scored a team-high 20 points.
ACCORDING TO COACH TRENT JOHNSON
"I thought defensively we were pretty good, especially in the first half. We were 21-10 on the glass and had 20 deflections in the first half, which is an indicator of active hands and playing with a level of intensity. Obviously, their physical, longer and athletic so in the second half they came out and made it tough. Not that it was ever going to be easy for us. I thought Fidelis, when you look at the box score he had five fouls and four rebounds, his defensive intensity in terms of forcing guys to have to work in the post was good.
We were 28-of-31 at the free throw line. It looked like two teams trying to win and beat each other up. I'm glad we came out on the winning side."
UP NEXT
The Matadors wrap up their road portion of their schedule of the regular season on Saturday against Long Beach State. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio beginning at 3:50 p.m.Â
#UniteTheValley
Â
Team Stats
CSUB
CSUN
FG%
.351
.500
3FG%
.222
.600
FT%
.788
.903
RB
24
38
TO
6
20
STL
9
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
28
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
13
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
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