CSUN Visits First-Place UCSD, Hosts UC Riverside This Week

FULL GAME NOTES

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball (13-8, 4-5 Big West) returns to action on Thursday when the Matadors take on Big West-leading UC San Diego at 7 p.m. The week will conclude at Premier America Credit Union Arena on Saturday where CSUN will face UC Riverside at 5 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio.

ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN dropped a 64-56 decision to Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday evening at home. De'Sean Allen-Eikens had a team-high 13 points to go with nine rebounds while Jasman Sangha had 10 points off the bench. CSUN led by a 31-22 margin at halftime and held a 37-28 lead early in the second half, but the Matadors were hampered by 24 total turnovers including 14 in the final period. CSUB erased a one-point deficit with three minutes remaining by closing the game on an 11-2 run.

First-place UC Irvine would edge CSUN by a 77-72 score last Saturday at the Bren Events Center. Dionte Bostick led the way with 18 points while Allen-Eikens chipped in with 15 points. Keonte Jones added 11 rebounds and Sangha had 12 points, but each fouled out. CSUN and UCI traded leads seven times in the first half as the score was deadlocked at 34-34 at halftime. UCI took control early in the second half and led by as many as 14 points before the Matadors roared back to cut the lead to two points in the final minute. The Anteaters though made free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

BIG PICTURE
CSUN looks to snap a season-high four game losing streak on Thursday when it visits first-place UC San Diego. Despite the recent losses, CSUN comes in with a 13-8 overall record to go with a 4-5 league mark. The Matadors can match its win total of the previous two seasons combined with their next victory. At 6-5 on the road, the Matadors have already won their most road games since the 2007-08 season. CSUN is also three wins shy of posting its most victories in a season since 2013-14.

THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER
Much of the credit to CSUN's success this season has hinged on the team's defense and rebounding. CSUN has held opponents to 40.2 percent shooting this season, which is second-lowest in The Big West. The Matadors have also held the opposition to 31.6 percent shooting from three, the third-lowest in the conference. On the year, CSUN has limited the opposition to under 40 percent shooting in 12 games, winning nine times. In the rebounding department, CSUN tops The Big West in nearly every rebounding category including rebounds per game (41.4), defensive rebounds per game (28.8) and rebounding margin (+7.8), Nationally, CSUN is 12th in overall rebounds per game. In total, CSUN has out-rebounded its opponents in 16 of 21 games while going 13-3 in those 16 victories.

BIG WEST LEADERBOARDS
Graduate De'Sean Allen-Eikens, CSUN's leading scorer, ranks fifth in The Big West in points per game (17.6). Allen-Eikens is also fourth in the league in minutes per game (32.7), 10th in field goal percentage (47.7) and 12th in rebounds per game (5.5). Junior Keonte Jones has made an impact in first season with CSUN, ranking third in the league in rebounds per game (7.1) while he is first in steals per game (1.9), second in blocks per game (1.5) and fifth in field goal percentage (56.0). Junior Dionte Bostick is ranks seventh in steals per game (1.6) and 11th in points per game (14.6). In the assists department, graduate Jared Barnett is fourth in The Big West in assists to turnover ratio (2.1). As a team, CSUN is second in the conference in steals per game (8.3) and third in points per game (77.0).

SCOUTING UC SAN DIEGO
The Tritons come in with a 14-7 overall record and 8-1 Big West mark. UCSD has won three overall in a row and five consecutive games at the LionTree Arena. Last week, UCSD beat UC Riverside 66-65 and routed UC Davis on the road 92-59. A threat to win The Big West title, UCSD is still not eligible for the postseason due to its four-year Division I reclassification period. Bryce Pope, who has won the two of the last three Big West Player of the Week awards, is fourth in The Big West in scoring at 18.6 points while other double-digit scorers include Tyler McGhie (14.1), Francis Nwaokorie (12.0) and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (12.0). Emmanuel Tshimanga is seventh in the conference in rebounding (6.0). UCSD is second in the league in 3-point percentage (36.3). Head coach Eric Olen is in his 11th season at UCSD.

Series History: Overall, UCSD is 4-2 against CSUN while the Tritons have yet to lose to the Matadors since joining The Big West. In the teams' last meeting in La Jolla, UCSD won by a 75-62 margin.

SCOUTING UC RIVERSIDE
UCR holds an 8-14 overall record and 3-7 Big West record. The Highlanders lost a pair last week to UC Davis 66-65 and Long Beach State 65-53. UCR is seeking its first true road win of the season after 11-straight losses. Isaiah Moses leads the team in scoring at 13.0 points while he is second in The Big West in assists per game (4.7). Barrington Hargress is also scoring in double figures at 11.1 points to go with averaging 4.0 assists. Kyle Owens tops the team in rebounding at 4.9 per game. As a team, UCR is averaging 68 points this year. Head coach Mike Magpayo is in his fourth season leading the Highlanders.

Series History: CSUN holds a slim 46-43 edge over UC Riverside in the all-time series. However, UCR has won the last seven meetings including the last five each by double digits. On Jan. 20, UCR won 82-63 over CSUN at the SCR Arena after knocking down 17 three-point shots.

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CSUN Visits First-Place UCSD, Hosts UC Riverside This Week

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Players Mentioned

De'Sean Allen-Eikens

Jared Barnett

Dionte Bostick

Keonte Jones

Jasman Sangha