CSUN Takes on UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Bakersfield in Big West Action

FULL GAME NOTES

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball reaches the halfway mark of the Big West season this week with the Matadors set to visit UC Santa Barbara on Thursday at 7 p.m. before hosting Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday at 5 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ while Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call in audio broadcasts at GoMatadors.com/Radio.

FOR STARTERS
CSUN (13-7, 5-4 Big West) looks to get back on the winning track after suffering a double-digit loss at UC San Diego last Saturday. The Matadors enter the week tied for fifth in the Big West standings with their Thursday opponent, UC Santa Barbara, at identical 5-4 conference records. Both CSUN and UCSB are just one game back of third place, occupied by both UC Riverside and UC Davis at 6-3, while UC Irvine leads the league at 8-1 and UC San Diego is second at 7-2. Just behind CSUN is Hawai'i and Cal State Bakersfield at 4-5 as seeds 3-8 are separated by just two full games.

ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN split its two games last week with the Matadors defeating Long Beach State at home 86-76 before falling 79-54 at UC San Diego. Six Matadors scored in double figures in the win over Long Beach State with Scotty Washington scoring a team-high 19 points while Marcus Adams Jr. added 17 points. CSUN built a 57-35 lead at halftime before the Beach stormed back to with 10 points in the second half, however, the Matadors picked up timely baskets from PJ Fuller II and Mahmoud Fofana to secure the win. At UCSD, the Matadors would struggle to their lowest scoring output and worst shooting night of the season (32.8). The Tritons took advantage, leading from start to finish and by as many as 26 points in the closing minutes.

TOP MATADOR PERFORMERS
Sophomore Marcus Adams Jr. has made a splash in his first season with CSUN as he tops the team in scoring at 15.7 points per game. Adams is ranked sixth in the Big West in field goal percentage (53.4) and eighth in scoring entering this week. On the season, Adams tops CSUN with 36 made threes on 40.4 percent shooting while he averages 4.7 rebounds this season.

Other top scorers this season includes Scotty Washington, who along with Adams has led CSUN in scoring in eight different games. Washington is 10th in the Big West in scoring at 14.3 points per game to go with 32 made threes and 22 steals. Washington is tied with Adams with a team-best 17.1 points per game in Big West play.

Senior Keonte Jones has once again filled up the stat sheet with regularity this season. Jones is 11th in the nation with nine double-doubles on the year while he is first in the Big West in rebounds per game (9.1), second in blocks per game (1.5) and fourth in assists per game (3.9) and steals per game (1.4). In addition, Jones has averaged 12.8 points per game on 48.6 percent shooting from the field and 47.8 percent shooting from 3-point range (11-for-23).

Senior PJ Fuller II is fourth on the team in scoring at 8.8 points to go with 3.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game. Behind him is fellow senior Mahmoud Fofana who is posting 7.6 points and 4.8 rebounds. Fofana is also shooting 60.8 percent from the field.

CSUN IN THE BIG WEST AND NATIONALLY
The Matadors enter this week's games leading the Big West in scoring (80.3) and rebounding (40.8). The team is also tops in the Big West and ranked 11th in the nation in rebounding margin (+9.1). In addition, CSUN is first in conference in assists per game (16.2) while the team ranks second in field goal percentage (46.7), opponent field goal percentage (39.6) and steals per game (8.2). Nationally, CSUN is 13th in Division I basketball in rebounds per game, 21st in defensive rebounds per game (28.1) and 24th in opponent field goal percentage.

SCOUTING UC SANTA BARBARA
The Gauchos are 13-7 overall and 5-4 in conference play. Last week, UCSB lost at UC San Diego 77-63 but bounced back for an 83-75 win at Cal State Fullerton. UCSB tops the Big West in field goal percentage (47.2) and ranks second in 3-point percentage (37.6) while averaging 74.0 points per game. Kenny Pohto (12.7) and Stephan Swenson (12.2) are first and second on the team in scoring, respectively. Pohto is second in the Big West in field goal percentage (62.7) and fifth in rebounds per game (7.3) while Swenson is second in the conference in assists per game (4.4). Cole Anderson is also the team's top 3-point threat as he comes in with a Big West-leading 51.6 shooting percentage from distance.

Series History: UCSB leads 47-24 over CSUN in the all-time series. Taking two of three meetings last season, the Matadors knocked the defending Big West champion Gauchos out of the 2024 Big West Championship in an 87-84 overtime victory. In last year's regular season, each side won on the road as CSUN collected an 82-74 win at the Thunderdome.

SCOUTING CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD
The Roadrunners are 10-11 overall and 4-5 in Big West play. In last week's action, Bakersfield defeated Cal State Fullerton 71-68 before falling at home 83-79 to UC Riverside. CSUB ranks third in the nation in 3-point percentage (40.0) while the team averages 74.8 points per game. Jemel Jones, who scored 45 points against CSUN back on Jan. 11, tops the team and ranks fourth in the Big West in points per game at 18.4. Corey Stephenson tops the 'Runners in rebounding at 5.6 per game to go with scoring 12.0 points per game.

Series History: Bakersfield holds a slim 29-26 edge over CSUN in the all-time series. CSUB won in come from behind fashion, 94-90, against CSUN on Jan. 11 in Bakersfield. Last season, the 'Runners came out on top at CSUN by a 64-56 score. Overall, CSUB has won five of the last seven meetings.

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CSUN Takes on UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Bakersfield in Big West Action

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Players Mentioned

Marcus Adams Jr.

Mahmoud Fofana

PJ Fuller II

Keonte Jones

Scotty Washington