Thursday, March 13
Henderson, Nev.
6:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
vs
(5) UC Santa Barbara
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Opens Big West Championship with UCSB on Thursday
3/12/2025 1:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
GAME NOTES
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball opens play at the 2025 Big West Championship, presented by Credit Union 1 on Thursday evening at Lee's Family Forum. The Matadors are seeded fourth at the tournament will take on fifth-seeded UC Santa Barbara in quarterfinal action. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ while Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
The winner of CSUN and UCSB will meet No. 1 seed UC San Diego on Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ and ESPNU.
FOR STARTERS
CSUN enters the Big West Championship at 22-9 on the season. The Matadors have tied their school record for wins, matching the program marks set by the 1977-78 and 2000-01 Matador teams. Also this season, CSUN went 14-6 in Big West play, posting the best conference win percentage (.700) since the 2007-08 season. The Matadors were picked to finish sixth in the Big West prior to the year but defied those expectations and finished tied for third, marking the best conference finish since 2020.
CSUN would also win 10 road games during the regular season, tying the school record in that category. Under the direction of second year head coach Andy Newman, CSUN has posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2008-09.
CSUN TRIO COLLECT ALL-BIG WEST HONORS
The Matadors boasted three on the 2025 All-Big West Team as Keonte Jones earned his first career All-Big West First Team selection while Marcus Adams Jr. was placed on the Second Team and Scotty Washington received an Honorable Mention. Jones started all 31 games in his second season with CSUN, finishing the regular season tied for first in the Big West in rebounds per game to go with averaging 12.8 points, 4.3 assists, blocks per game (1.3) and steals per game (1.3). Adams had a breakout first season with CSUN, ranking first on the team and eighth in the Big West in scoring at 16.5 points on 52.9 percent shooting while he made a team-high 62 threes and averaged 4.9 rebounds. Washington has also enjoyed a strong first season with CSUN, ranking second on the team and 10th in the conference in scoring (14.5) to go with 50 made threes and 36.2 percent shooting from distance.
CSUN IN THE BIG WEST NATIONALLY
The Matadors have remained the top rebounding team in the Big West this season as they enter the Big West Championship first in overall rebounds per game (40.2), offensive rebounds per game (12.9) and rebounding margin (+8.5) while the team is second in defensive rebounds per game (27.3). Nationally, the Matadors are eighth in rebounding margin and 11th in overall rebounds per game. On the offensive end, CSUN is second in the conference in scoring at 80.9 and field goal percentage (46.8). The team is also the Big West leader in assists per game (16.7).
Individually, Marcus Adams Jr. is eighth in the Big West in scoring (16.5) followed by Scotty Washington in 10th (14.5) and Keonte Jones in 15th place (12.8). Jones is also the Big West leader in rebounds per game (9.1) while he is ranked second in blocks per game (1.3), third in assists per game (4.3) and fourth in steals per game (1.9). Nationally, Jones is also 18th in double-doubles (13) and 28th in total rebounds (282). On the assist list, Tyler Beard is behind Jones in sixth place at 3.4 per game and PJ Fuller II is ninth at 3.1 per game.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN wrapped up the regular season with a 1-1 week to finish 14-6 in Big West play. Earlier in the week, CSUN dropped a 94-79 decision at UC Riverside as the Matadors could not erase a 19-point deficit. Marcus Adams Jr. scored a team-high 17 points while PJ Fuller II and Mahmoud Fofana had 15 points apiece against the Highlanders. The Matadors though bounced back with an 82-73 win over Hawai'i on Senior Night last Saturday. CSUN broke open a one-point lead with a 12-0 run in the second half to pull away. Adams had a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds, and CSUN picked up contributions from seniors Tyler Beard (19) and Fuller (16).
A LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
Last year's Big West Championship would be a memorable one with CSUN earning a first-round overtime win over UC Santa Barbara, 87-84. Keonte Jones had 24 points to lead the way as CSUN earned its first conference tournament win since 2014. A day later, the Matadors would give Hawai'i a battle in the Big West quarterfinals before falling 75-68. Senior De'Sean Allen-Eikens had 22 points in the Hawai'i loss but would collect Big West All-Tournament honors after averaging 22.5 points and 6.0 rebounds over the two CSUN games.
SCOUTING UC SANTA BARBARA
UCSB is 20-12 on the season with an 11-9 Big West record to earn the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament. On Wednesday, UCSB knocked off Cal State Bakersfield 71-66 in a first round game at the Big West Championship. The Gauchos lead the Big West in field goal percentage (47.4) and 3-point percentage (39.4) Stephan Swenson leads UCSB in scoring at 13.0 points while Cole Anderson holds the top 3-point percentage in the Big West at 50.0. Other top scorers include Kenny Pohto (11.9 points), Jason Fontenet II (10.3) and Deuce Turner (10.3). Pohto (6.3) and Fontenet (6.0) are eighth and ninth in rebounding in the Big West, respectively.
Series History: UCSB holds a 47-26 edge over CSUN all time. CSUN took both regular season meetings from UCSB this season, winning 78-71 and 103-77. The teams have met five times previously in the Big West Championship with CSUN winning three of the five including last season's first round matchup.
#GoMatadors
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NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball opens play at the 2025 Big West Championship, presented by Credit Union 1 on Thursday evening at Lee's Family Forum. The Matadors are seeded fourth at the tournament will take on fifth-seeded UC Santa Barbara in quarterfinal action. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ while Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
The winner of CSUN and UCSB will meet No. 1 seed UC San Diego on Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ and ESPNU.
FOR STARTERS
CSUN enters the Big West Championship at 22-9 on the season. The Matadors have tied their school record for wins, matching the program marks set by the 1977-78 and 2000-01 Matador teams. Also this season, CSUN went 14-6 in Big West play, posting the best conference win percentage (.700) since the 2007-08 season. The Matadors were picked to finish sixth in the Big West prior to the year but defied those expectations and finished tied for third, marking the best conference finish since 2020.
CSUN would also win 10 road games during the regular season, tying the school record in that category. Under the direction of second year head coach Andy Newman, CSUN has posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2008-09.
CSUN TRIO COLLECT ALL-BIG WEST HONORS
The Matadors boasted three on the 2025 All-Big West Team as Keonte Jones earned his first career All-Big West First Team selection while Marcus Adams Jr. was placed on the Second Team and Scotty Washington received an Honorable Mention. Jones started all 31 games in his second season with CSUN, finishing the regular season tied for first in the Big West in rebounds per game to go with averaging 12.8 points, 4.3 assists, blocks per game (1.3) and steals per game (1.3). Adams had a breakout first season with CSUN, ranking first on the team and eighth in the Big West in scoring at 16.5 points on 52.9 percent shooting while he made a team-high 62 threes and averaged 4.9 rebounds. Washington has also enjoyed a strong first season with CSUN, ranking second on the team and 10th in the conference in scoring (14.5) to go with 50 made threes and 36.2 percent shooting from distance.
CSUN IN THE BIG WEST NATIONALLY
The Matadors have remained the top rebounding team in the Big West this season as they enter the Big West Championship first in overall rebounds per game (40.2), offensive rebounds per game (12.9) and rebounding margin (+8.5) while the team is second in defensive rebounds per game (27.3). Nationally, the Matadors are eighth in rebounding margin and 11th in overall rebounds per game. On the offensive end, CSUN is second in the conference in scoring at 80.9 and field goal percentage (46.8). The team is also the Big West leader in assists per game (16.7).
Individually, Marcus Adams Jr. is eighth in the Big West in scoring (16.5) followed by Scotty Washington in 10th (14.5) and Keonte Jones in 15th place (12.8). Jones is also the Big West leader in rebounds per game (9.1) while he is ranked second in blocks per game (1.3), third in assists per game (4.3) and fourth in steals per game (1.9). Nationally, Jones is also 18th in double-doubles (13) and 28th in total rebounds (282). On the assist list, Tyler Beard is behind Jones in sixth place at 3.4 per game and PJ Fuller II is ninth at 3.1 per game.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN wrapped up the regular season with a 1-1 week to finish 14-6 in Big West play. Earlier in the week, CSUN dropped a 94-79 decision at UC Riverside as the Matadors could not erase a 19-point deficit. Marcus Adams Jr. scored a team-high 17 points while PJ Fuller II and Mahmoud Fofana had 15 points apiece against the Highlanders. The Matadors though bounced back with an 82-73 win over Hawai'i on Senior Night last Saturday. CSUN broke open a one-point lead with a 12-0 run in the second half to pull away. Adams had a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds, and CSUN picked up contributions from seniors Tyler Beard (19) and Fuller (16).
A LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
Last year's Big West Championship would be a memorable one with CSUN earning a first-round overtime win over UC Santa Barbara, 87-84. Keonte Jones had 24 points to lead the way as CSUN earned its first conference tournament win since 2014. A day later, the Matadors would give Hawai'i a battle in the Big West quarterfinals before falling 75-68. Senior De'Sean Allen-Eikens had 22 points in the Hawai'i loss but would collect Big West All-Tournament honors after averaging 22.5 points and 6.0 rebounds over the two CSUN games.
SCOUTING UC SANTA BARBARA
UCSB is 20-12 on the season with an 11-9 Big West record to earn the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament. On Wednesday, UCSB knocked off Cal State Bakersfield 71-66 in a first round game at the Big West Championship. The Gauchos lead the Big West in field goal percentage (47.4) and 3-point percentage (39.4) Stephan Swenson leads UCSB in scoring at 13.0 points while Cole Anderson holds the top 3-point percentage in the Big West at 50.0. Other top scorers include Kenny Pohto (11.9 points), Jason Fontenet II (10.3) and Deuce Turner (10.3). Pohto (6.3) and Fontenet (6.0) are eighth and ninth in rebounding in the Big West, respectively.
Series History: UCSB holds a 47-26 edge over CSUN all time. CSUN took both regular season meetings from UCSB this season, winning 78-71 and 103-77. The teams have met five times previously in the Big West Championship with CSUN winning three of the five including last season's first round matchup.
#GoMatadors
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