Saturday, January 6
Northridge, Calif.
5:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
12-3,3-0Big West
76
vs
66
Hawai'i
9-6,1-2Big West
1
2
F
Hawaii
37
29
66
CSUN
37
39
76
Photo by: Connor Clark
CSUN Wins Hard Fought Battle with Hawai'i, Ties School D-1 Win Streak Record
1/6/2024 7:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball tied a school Division I record for wins in a row with seven as the Matadors improved to 3-0 in Big West play with a 76-66 victory over Hawai'i on Saturday evening at Premier America Credit Union Arena. De'Sean Allen-Eikens topped CSUN in scoring with 20 points while Gianni Hunt scored a season-high 16 points and added six rebounds. Keonte Jones would also fill up the stat sheet with 13 points, six rebounds, five steals and four blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Three consecutive Hawai'i 3-point shots put the Matadors in an early 9-2 hole. CSUN thought fought back with a 9-2 spurt of its own, capped by a three-point play from Mahmoud Fofana to even the game at 11-11. Keonte Jones gave CSUN its first lead on a driving layup, but Hawai'i scored the next six to go back in front 18-14 at the 10:41 mark of the first half. A Noel Coleman three pushed the Hawai'i lead to 24-18 before CSUN picked up four-straight defensive stops and completed a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead. Coleman later hit a three for a Hawai'i 37-34 lead, but Dionte Bostick responded with a late three of his own to tie the game at 37-37 heading into intermission.
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The Matadors would regain the lead at 45-42 following back-to-back baskets from Bostick early in the second half. The Bows though responded with a 7-0 run for a 49-45 advantage. CSUN trailed until the 11:50 mark of the second half when De'Sean Allen-Eikens gave the Matadors a 51-50 lead at the free throw line. The lead was short-lived, however, as five-straight Hawai'i points gave the visitors the lead once more. During a key stretch, the Matadors scored six unanswered for a 59-55 lead with 7:18 remaining. Hawai'i would stay within striking distance though, pulling to within 62-61 with 4:32 to go.
CSUN's defense would be the difference down the stretch of the game. A Jasman Sangha basket followed by back-to-back steals and a Jones basket gave CSUN a 66-61 edge. Gianni Hunt made a timely three with 2:36 left to go and Allen-Eikens hit another key shot on the next possession to stretch the lead to 71-63. Hawai'i picked up a three from Justin McCoy with 1:29 left, but CSUN made five free throws in the closing moments including four from Hunt to seal the win.
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NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"I'm so proud of this team. They're playing so hard and really responding when times are getting tough. They're raising their level of toughness.
[Gianni] was terrific. He's a really good player and so dynamic. He can score in many different ways and just loves the big shots. That three-pointer clinched it for us. Same thing at UCLA, hitting the big shot. He's just a stud and I'm glad he's got a Matador uniform."
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UP NEXT
CSUN hits the road to face UC Davis on Thursday, Jan. 11. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Three consecutive Hawai'i 3-point shots put the Matadors in an early 9-2 hole. CSUN thought fought back with a 9-2 spurt of its own, capped by a three-point play from Mahmoud Fofana to even the game at 11-11. Keonte Jones gave CSUN its first lead on a driving layup, but Hawai'i scored the next six to go back in front 18-14 at the 10:41 mark of the first half. A Noel Coleman three pushed the Hawai'i lead to 24-18 before CSUN picked up four-straight defensive stops and completed a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead. Coleman later hit a three for a Hawai'i 37-34 lead, but Dionte Bostick responded with a late three of his own to tie the game at 37-37 heading into intermission.
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Diont3. ??
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) January 7, 2024
We're knotted at 37-37 late in the first half.#GoMatadors x @iBostickDionte pic.twitter.com/vOho2mgfxD
The Matadors would regain the lead at 45-42 following back-to-back baskets from Bostick early in the second half. The Bows though responded with a 7-0 run for a 49-45 advantage. CSUN trailed until the 11:50 mark of the second half when De'Sean Allen-Eikens gave the Matadors a 51-50 lead at the free throw line. The lead was short-lived, however, as five-straight Hawai'i points gave the visitors the lead once more. During a key stretch, the Matadors scored six unanswered for a 59-55 lead with 7:18 remaining. Hawai'i would stay within striking distance though, pulling to within 62-61 with 4:32 to go.
CSUN's defense would be the difference down the stretch of the game. A Jasman Sangha basket followed by back-to-back steals and a Jones basket gave CSUN a 66-61 edge. Gianni Hunt made a timely three with 2:36 left to go and Allen-Eikens hit another key shot on the next possession to stretch the lead to 71-63. Hawai'i picked up a three from Justin McCoy with 1:29 left, but CSUN made five free throws in the closing moments including four from Hunt to seal the win.
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20 ?? for @DeseanEikens!
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) January 7, 2024
CSUN leads by eight with less than two minutes to go.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/nsCurRSaZi
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN improved to 12-3 overall and 3-0 in Big West play. Hawai'i slips to 9-6 overall and 1-2 in conference action.
- CSUN's 3-0 start to Big West play is the program's best conference start since the 2016-17 season.
- The Matadors shot 46.2 percent for the game and went 3-of-7 from 3-point range (42.9 percent) while also going 25-of-30 (83.3 percent) at the free throw line. Hawai'i was held to 32.8 percent shooting to go with 11-of-38 shooting from three (28.9 percent) and 13-of-18 shooting at the free throw line (72.2 percent).
- CSUN narrowly out-rebounded Hawai'i 39-36 while the Matadors led 40-16 in points in the paint and 27-15 in fastbreak points.
- There were 14 ties and 13 lead changes in the game.
- Dionte Bostick also scored in double digits, finishing with 11 points. Mahmoud Fofana chipped in with nine points and six rebounds off the bench.
ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"I'm so proud of this team. They're playing so hard and really responding when times are getting tough. They're raising their level of toughness.
[Gianni] was terrific. He's a really good player and so dynamic. He can score in many different ways and just loves the big shots. That three-pointer clinched it for us. Same thing at UCLA, hitting the big shot. He's just a stud and I'm glad he's got a Matador uniform."
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"I'm so proud of this team. They're playing so hard and really responding when times are getting tough."
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) January 7, 2024
HC Andy Newman reflects on ?????????????? impressive win.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/lSbzTakTZT
UP NEXT
CSUN hits the road to face UC Davis on Thursday, Jan. 11. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#GoMatadors
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Team Stats
Hawaii
CSUN
FG%
.328
.462
3FG%
.289
.429
FT%
.722
.833
RB
36
39
TO
13
14
STL
8
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
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