Saturday, January 11
Bakersfield, Calif.
6:30 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
11-6,3-3Big West
90
at
94
Cal State Bakersfield
9-9,3-3Big West
1
2
F
CSUN
49
41
90
CSU Bakersfield
34
60
94
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
Bakersfield Rallies to Beat CSUN, 94-90
1/11/2025 8:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball could not hold off a second-half rally from Cal State Bakersfield in a 94-90 loss on Saturday at the Icardo Center. The defeat spoiled a career night for Mahmoud Fofana who scored a personal-best 24 points to go with five rebounds. Marcus Adams Jr. added 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting. CSUN led by as many as 23 points, but the Roadrunners roared back and outscored the Matadors 60-41 in the second half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In a tale of two halves, CSUN controlled the game in the first period. The Matadors jumped out to a 15-6 lead after an 11-1 run as Keonte Jones finished the run with a putback layup. Jemel Jones helped bring the 'Runners to within 15-12 on a three, but CSUN responded with a big 17-0 run. Tyler Beard scored the first four points in the run while Adams made the next three field goals to push the lead to double digits. Scotty Washington nailed a three as well in the run followed by a Fofana layup for a 32-12 lead with 8:02 left in the first half. Adams was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor in the opening stanza as his jumper at the 6:32 mark made it a 35-16 game. In the highlight of the half, Jones threw down an emphatic dunk near the five minute mark for a 40-21 lead as CSUN led comfortably for the remainder of the period. Fofana closed the period with a layup before a late free throw from Bakersfield cut the CSUN lead to 49-34 at the break.
Out of intermission, CSUN remained in control in the early portions of the second half. The Matadors went on an early 10-3 run to take a 61-39 lead. CSUN led by as many as 23 points when Fofana completed a three-point play for a 64-41 advantage with 15:50 remaining. However, it would be all Cal State Bakersfield the rest of the way with the 'Runners' Jones leading the comeback charge. Jones caught fire from the floor, scoring 31 points in the second half alone. In a 13-3 run, Jones scored nine of those points to quickly cut the deficit to 67-54.
CSUN's Grady Lewis scored at the 12:01 mark, but from there, the Matadors did not score for nearly six minutes. Jones completed a traditional three-point play to bring CSUB within single digits near the 10-minute mark. CSUB got closer on back-to-back baskets from Jaden Alexander and Marvin McGhee III before eventually taking a 73-71 lead on a three-point play from Kadar Waller to close a 12-0 run. Fofana tied the game up on the ensuing possession, but Jones answered with five-straight Roadrunner points. The Matadors would draw even at 78-78 on five points of their own, only to see CSUB regain the lead on a Jones three. After falling behind 88-83 with 2:17 to go, CSUN evened the game up a minute later when Fofana completed a three-point play. Each side traded free throws leading to the final seconds where Jones drilled a jumper for a Bakersfield 92-90 lead. Adams missed a potential game winner with five seconds remaining as the Roadrunners clinched the game moments later at the free throw line.
NOTES OF THE GAME
UP NEXT
CSUN will travel to Hawai'i next Thursday, Jan. 16 at 9 p.m. PT on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan will have the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED
In a tale of two halves, CSUN controlled the game in the first period. The Matadors jumped out to a 15-6 lead after an 11-1 run as Keonte Jones finished the run with a putback layup. Jemel Jones helped bring the 'Runners to within 15-12 on a three, but CSUN responded with a big 17-0 run. Tyler Beard scored the first four points in the run while Adams made the next three field goals to push the lead to double digits. Scotty Washington nailed a three as well in the run followed by a Fofana layup for a 32-12 lead with 8:02 left in the first half. Adams was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor in the opening stanza as his jumper at the 6:32 mark made it a 35-16 game. In the highlight of the half, Jones threw down an emphatic dunk near the five minute mark for a 40-21 lead as CSUN led comfortably for the remainder of the period. Fofana closed the period with a layup before a late free throw from Bakersfield cut the CSUN lead to 49-34 at the break.
Out of intermission, CSUN remained in control in the early portions of the second half. The Matadors went on an early 10-3 run to take a 61-39 lead. CSUN led by as many as 23 points when Fofana completed a three-point play for a 64-41 advantage with 15:50 remaining. However, it would be all Cal State Bakersfield the rest of the way with the 'Runners' Jones leading the comeback charge. Jones caught fire from the floor, scoring 31 points in the second half alone. In a 13-3 run, Jones scored nine of those points to quickly cut the deficit to 67-54.
CSUN's Grady Lewis scored at the 12:01 mark, but from there, the Matadors did not score for nearly six minutes. Jones completed a traditional three-point play to bring CSUB within single digits near the 10-minute mark. CSUB got closer on back-to-back baskets from Jaden Alexander and Marvin McGhee III before eventually taking a 73-71 lead on a three-point play from Kadar Waller to close a 12-0 run. Fofana tied the game up on the ensuing possession, but Jones answered with five-straight Roadrunner points. The Matadors would draw even at 78-78 on five points of their own, only to see CSUB regain the lead on a Jones three. After falling behind 88-83 with 2:17 to go, CSUN evened the game up a minute later when Fofana completed a three-point play. Each side traded free throws leading to the final seconds where Jones drilled a jumper for a Bakersfield 92-90 lead. Adams missed a potential game winner with five seconds remaining as the Roadrunners clinched the game moments later at the free throw line.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN drops to 11-6 overall and 3-3 in Big West play while Cal State Bakersfield improves to 9-9 overall and 3-3 in conference.
- The Matadors shot a season-high 57.1 percent from the floor while making 4-of-16 threes (25.0 percent) and 22-of-33 free throws (66.7 percent). Bakersfield shot 54.9 percent including 69.2 percent in the second half while hitting 10-of-24 from three (41.7 percent) and 28-of-35 at the free throw line overall.
- CSUN led in rebounding, 34-24 and also had a 46-20 edge in points in the paint.
- Fofana made 8-of-9 shots and 8-of-11 free throws.
- CSUN's Jones had 11 points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes before fouling out with 7:19 remaining in the game.
- Bakersfield's Jones finished with 45 points on the night on 13-of-22 shooting.
UP NEXT
CSUN will travel to Hawai'i next Thursday, Jan. 16 at 9 p.m. PT on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan will have the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#GoMatadors
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Team Stats
CSUN
CSUB
FG%
.571
.549
3FG%
.250
.417
FT%
.667
.800
RB
34
24
TO
12
15
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
21
FGM
9
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
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