Sunday, November 24
Missoula, Mont.
1:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
4-1,0-0Big West
89
vs
79
Utah Tech
1-5,0-0WAC
1
2
F
CSUN
40
49
89
Utah Tech
50
29
79
Photo by: Connor Clark
CSUN Rallies Again to Upend Utah Tech, 89-79
11/24/2024 3:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MISSOULA, Mont.---CSUN Men's Basketball completed its second consecutive double-digit comeback, defeating Utah Tech 89-79 in the first game of the Stew Morrill Classic on Sunday at Dalberg Arena. Sophomore Marcus Adams Jr. poured in a career-high 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting while Keonte Jones registered 23 points and nine rebounds and Scotty Washington chipped in with 19 points.
The Matadors trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half before outscoring the Trailblazers 49-29 in the period. CSUN's 4-1 start to the season is the program's best start since the 2012-13 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Trailblazers jumped on the Matadors with a 7-0 run out of the gate, forcing a CSUN timeout. Adams scored the Matadors' first field goal at the 15:45 mark of the first half. He also hit a stepback jumper to pull CSUN to within 16-11, but Utah Tech scored the next four points. Britton Berrett nailed a three for Utah Tech at the 9:37 mark before Judson Martindale answered for CSUN from long range to again keep his team close at 23-17. The Trailblazers though kept up its strong shooting from the outside as a Berrett three extended the lead to double digits (29-17). Beginning at the eight-minute mark of the period, CSUN turned the half around with a quick 13-0 run, which was coupled by four defensive stops in a row. Jones completed two traditional 3-point plays during the stretch with Adams completing the run with a layup for CSUN's first lead of the game at 30-29.
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The teams traded leads down the stretch of the first half before the Trailblazers regained control with an 11-1 run, highlighted by back-to-back threes from Noa Gonsalves. Adams and Tyler Beard hit late baskets for CSUN, but Stone Hutchings beat the halftime buzzer with a basket for a Utah Tech 50-40 lead at the break.
Out of intermission, CSUN stormed out to a 9-0 spurt with a Washington jumper pulling the Matadors to within 50-49. After a timeout though Utah Tech answered with a basket by Samuel Ariyibi followed by another three from Gonsalves. Grady Lewis slowed down the Utah Tech offensive surge with a basket, but the Trailblazers followed with six consecutive points to extend to a 64-51 lead with 13:46 left to play. As they had done throughout the afternoon, the Matadors kept plugging away and soon fought back into the game as Jones spearheaded a 9-0 run. Jalen Barbee converted on a layup to pull CSUN to within 64-60 before Beon Riley answered for Utah Tech with a basket. Moments later, Barbee knocked down a corner three to pull CSUN closer at 66-63.
For Utah Tech, Justin Bieker hit a three with 10:39 left to play for a 69-63 lead, however, from that point on, the Trailblazers would not make another field goal for the remainder of the game. The Matadors put together a 7-0 run with Jones hitting a three to put the Matadors on top at 70-69 with 9:08 left. The score would change hands on consecutive possessions as Adams hit two-straight jumpers.
Moments later, Jones picked up a steal and drew a foul before splitting a pair at the line for a 75-73 lead with 6:41 to go. Utah Tech, still without a field goal, kept pace at the free throw line, but CSUN scored the next six points with Jones and Washington hitting key baskets. Washington scored in the paint for another timely field goal while Adams scored on a CSUN fastbreak with 1:09 left to play, stretching the lead to eight at 87-79. Adams completed a CSUN 12-4 run to end the game with a late layup in the final seconds.
NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"We would like to play good basketball from start to the finish. This team hasn't found that yet, but they will. Just a matter of getting reps and getting them to own it. I do love their response. There was no quit. They want to be good, they don't know how to do it yet, but they're learning their way. As soon as they learn how hard they have to play on the defensive end for 40 minutes, we're going to be a problem."
UP NEXT
CSUN continues the Stew Morrill Classic on Monday in Missoula, Mont. The Matadors take on Denver in another afternoon contest beginning at 1 p.m. PT on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan will have the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#GoMatadors
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The Matadors trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half before outscoring the Trailblazers 49-29 in the period. CSUN's 4-1 start to the season is the program's best start since the 2012-13 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Trailblazers jumped on the Matadors with a 7-0 run out of the gate, forcing a CSUN timeout. Adams scored the Matadors' first field goal at the 15:45 mark of the first half. He also hit a stepback jumper to pull CSUN to within 16-11, but Utah Tech scored the next four points. Britton Berrett nailed a three for Utah Tech at the 9:37 mark before Judson Martindale answered for CSUN from long range to again keep his team close at 23-17. The Trailblazers though kept up its strong shooting from the outside as a Berrett three extended the lead to double digits (29-17). Beginning at the eight-minute mark of the period, CSUN turned the half around with a quick 13-0 run, which was coupled by four defensive stops in a row. Jones completed two traditional 3-point plays during the stretch with Adams completing the run with a layup for CSUN's first lead of the game at 30-29.
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Just how, Keonte?
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) November 24, 2024
The and one off the circus shot from Keonte Jones gets CSUN closer.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/JV5F35VgKF
The teams traded leads down the stretch of the first half before the Trailblazers regained control with an 11-1 run, highlighted by back-to-back threes from Noa Gonsalves. Adams and Tyler Beard hit late baskets for CSUN, but Stone Hutchings beat the halftime buzzer with a basket for a Utah Tech 50-40 lead at the break.
Out of intermission, CSUN stormed out to a 9-0 spurt with a Washington jumper pulling the Matadors to within 50-49. After a timeout though Utah Tech answered with a basket by Samuel Ariyibi followed by another three from Gonsalves. Grady Lewis slowed down the Utah Tech offensive surge with a basket, but the Trailblazers followed with six consecutive points to extend to a 64-51 lead with 13:46 left to play. As they had done throughout the afternoon, the Matadors kept plugging away and soon fought back into the game as Jones spearheaded a 9-0 run. Jalen Barbee converted on a layup to pull CSUN to within 64-60 before Beon Riley answered for Utah Tech with a basket. Moments later, Barbee knocked down a corner three to pull CSUN closer at 66-63.
For Utah Tech, Justin Bieker hit a three with 10:39 left to play for a 69-63 lead, however, from that point on, the Trailblazers would not make another field goal for the remainder of the game. The Matadors put together a 7-0 run with Jones hitting a three to put the Matadors on top at 70-69 with 9:08 left. The score would change hands on consecutive possessions as Adams hit two-straight jumpers.
Marcus Adams sinks the floater to put CSUN on top!#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/N5ymUiQLpX
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) November 24, 2024
Moments later, Jones picked up a steal and drew a foul before splitting a pair at the line for a 75-73 lead with 6:41 to go. Utah Tech, still without a field goal, kept pace at the free throw line, but CSUN scored the next six points with Jones and Washington hitting key baskets. Washington scored in the paint for another timely field goal while Adams scored on a CSUN fastbreak with 1:09 left to play, stretching the lead to eight at 87-79. Adams completed a CSUN 12-4 run to end the game with a late layup in the final seconds.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN improves to 4-1 with its fourth consecutive victory while Utah Tech drops to 1-5.
- The Matadors shot 55.6 percent for the game, behind 58.8 percent shooting in the second half. CSUN hit 8-of-17 from three (47.1 percent) and 11-of-20 from the free throw line (55.0 percent) while Utah Tech shot 44.0 percent overall while going 10-of-27 from three (37.0 percent) and 25-of-27 from the free throw line (92.6 percent).
- On the glass, CSUN out-rebounded Utah Tech 35-27.
- The Matadors also controlled the paint, outscoring the Trailblazers 46-18.
- Washington hit 3-of-6 from three while adding three rebounds and two steals.
- Mahmoud Fofana chipped with six points and four rebounds while Martindale and Barbee each scored five points off the bench.
ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"We would like to play good basketball from start to the finish. This team hasn't found that yet, but they will. Just a matter of getting reps and getting them to own it. I do love their response. There was no quit. They want to be good, they don't know how to do it yet, but they're learning their way. As soon as they learn how hard they have to play on the defensive end for 40 minutes, we're going to be a problem."
UP NEXT
CSUN continues the Stew Morrill Classic on Monday in Missoula, Mont. The Matadors take on Denver in another afternoon contest beginning at 1 p.m. PT on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan will have the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#GoMatadors
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Team Stats
CSUN
UTTECH
FG%
.556
.440
3FG%
.471
.370
FT%
.550
.926
RB
35
27
TO
11
14
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
11
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
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