Sunday, November 16
Northridge, Calif.
5:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
3-2,0-0Big West
94
vs
85
Troy
3-2,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
F
Troy
49
36
85
CSUN
51
43
94
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Pulls Out 94-85 Decision Against Troy
11/16/2025 7:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball used an 10-2 run in the final minutes to hold off Troy for a 94-85 victory on Sunday at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Joshua O'Garro registered his third double-double of the season with 23 points and 11 rebounds while Josiah Davis added 20 points, six rebounds and five assists in the win.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
It would be back-and-forth to start with four lead changes and three times over the first four minutes of action. Troy would take a 16-12 lead with just over five minutes into the game before CSUN went on an 8-0 run, capped by a James Evans Jr. layup off a steal from O'Garro. Evans then nailed a three and Davis added a fastbreak layup for a 25-19 lead, forcing a Trojans timeout with 12:14 on the clock. Davis would throw down an emphatic dunk moments after a Davius Loury steal while CSUN extended to a double-digit lead at 29-19 after a Jordan Brinson basket. The Matadors led by as many as 14 points in the first half at 35-21, but Troy battled back into the game, cutting the deficit to 39-35 on a 7-0 run. A late three from Cobi Campbell pulled the Trojans to within 51-49 heading into the break.Â
Â
In the early moments of the second half, Victor Valdez nailed a three for Troy giving the visitors their first lead since the start of the game. Larry Hughes II though answered from downtown on the Matadors' ensuing possession. Moments later, the Trojans went back in front on a 6-0 run, forcing a CSUN timeout. Out of the huddle, Hughes made another from 3-point range, plus a foul to eventually tie the game at 58-58. Over the ensuing minutes, there would be five ties until CSUN reclaimed the lead on a clutch 3-point play from O'Garro at the midway portion of the second half. The Matadors kept up the momentum, finishing a 9-0 run with a Mahmoud Fofana putback layup for a 75-68 lead with 8:23 to go.Â
O'Garro nailed a timely three at the 5:47 mark, extending to a 82-73 lead before a 10-2 Trojan run cut the deficit to 84-83 with a little over three minutes on the clock. With CSUN in need of a basket, O'Garro came away with a big offensive rebound and putback to push the lead to three. At the 1:36 mark, O'Garro hit another from downtown extending to a 90-85 lead while a CSUN defensive stop coupled with a Davis fastbreak layup gave the Matadors a seven-point edge. CSUN held Troy scoreless over the final 1:36 while scoring the game's final seven points to clinch the win.Â
Â
NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"I'm so proud of these guys and their response. This is a group of winners and they love competing. The thought of coming up short really bugged them over the last couple of days. You could see that with their intensity. They just would not be denied tonight. That's a really good team that we just beat."
UP NEXT
CSUN will be off for the next nine days before returning to action at the Holiday Hoops Classic in Boise, Idaho. The Matadors will play Idaho to open the multi-team event on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 6 p.m. PT on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan will be on the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio and the Varsity app.Â
#GoMatadors
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
It would be back-and-forth to start with four lead changes and three times over the first four minutes of action. Troy would take a 16-12 lead with just over five minutes into the game before CSUN went on an 8-0 run, capped by a James Evans Jr. layup off a steal from O'Garro. Evans then nailed a three and Davis added a fastbreak layup for a 25-19 lead, forcing a Trojans timeout with 12:14 on the clock. Davis would throw down an emphatic dunk moments after a Davius Loury steal while CSUN extended to a double-digit lead at 29-19 after a Jordan Brinson basket. The Matadors led by as many as 14 points in the first half at 35-21, but Troy battled back into the game, cutting the deficit to 39-35 on a 7-0 run. A late three from Cobi Campbell pulled the Trojans to within 51-49 heading into the break.Â
Â
GET UP 4???
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) November 17, 2025
Josiah Davis gives CSUN a 27-19 lead.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/4IZ8QhLJAm
In the early moments of the second half, Victor Valdez nailed a three for Troy giving the visitors their first lead since the start of the game. Larry Hughes II though answered from downtown on the Matadors' ensuing possession. Moments later, the Trojans went back in front on a 6-0 run, forcing a CSUN timeout. Out of the huddle, Hughes made another from 3-point range, plus a foul to eventually tie the game at 58-58. Over the ensuing minutes, there would be five ties until CSUN reclaimed the lead on a clutch 3-point play from O'Garro at the midway portion of the second half. The Matadors kept up the momentum, finishing a 9-0 run with a Mahmoud Fofana putback layup for a 75-68 lead with 8:23 to go.Â
O'Garro nailed a timely three at the 5:47 mark, extending to a 82-73 lead before a 10-2 Trojan run cut the deficit to 84-83 with a little over three minutes on the clock. With CSUN in need of a basket, O'Garro came away with a big offensive rebound and putback to push the lead to three. At the 1:36 mark, O'Garro hit another from downtown extending to a 90-85 lead while a CSUN defensive stop coupled with a Davis fastbreak layup gave the Matadors a seven-point edge. CSUN held Troy scoreless over the final 1:36 while scoring the game's final seven points to clinch the win.Â
Â
O'GARRO WITH A MASSIVE TRIPLE.
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) November 17, 2025
He's up to 23 points and CSUN leads by 5.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/jpQgshg4jd
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN improves to 3-2 while Troy slips to 3-2 on the season.Â
- The Matadors shot 56.7 percent for the night, making 7-of-20 from three (35.0 percent) and 11-of-16 from the free throw line (68.8 percent). Troy shot 45.9 percent overall while hitting 10-of-31 from three (32.3 percent) and 19-of-22 from the charity stripe (86.4 percent).Â
- CSUN out-rebounded Troy 42-25 overall and outscored the Trojans 20-5 in second chance points.Â
- The Matadors also held a sizeable 60-34 advantage in points in the paint.Â
- Hughes finished with 15 points to go with 3-of-4 shooting from three. Evans scored a season-high 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting.Â
- O'Garro's 23 points are a season high while it ties his career high he set in 2024 with Texas State.Â
- Fofana chipped in with eight points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.Â
ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"I'm so proud of these guys and their response. This is a group of winners and they love competing. The thought of coming up short really bugged them over the last couple of days. You could see that with their intensity. They just would not be denied tonight. That's a really good team that we just beat."
UP NEXT
CSUN will be off for the next nine days before returning to action at the Holiday Hoops Classic in Boise, Idaho. The Matadors will play Idaho to open the multi-team event on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 6 p.m. PT on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan will be on the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio and the Varsity app.Â
#GoMatadors
Â
Team Stats
TROY
CSUN
FG%
.459
.567
3FG%
.323
.350
FT%
.864
.688
RB
25
42
TO
8
14
STL
9
5
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballCSUN Women's Soccer vs. UC Riverside Recap
Tuesday, September 30
CSUN Baseball Robert J. Hiegert Field
Friday, June 06
2025 CSUN Softball Recap
Friday, June 06
2024-25 CSUN Athletics Recap
Friday, June 06