CSUN Falls on the Road at First-Place Hawai'i

Saturday, January 24

Manoa, Hawai'i

9:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

11-10,4-5Big West

Hawai'i

15-4,7-2Big West

CSUN

Hawaii

Photo by: Anthony Fortie

CSUN Falls on the Road at First-Place Hawai'i

1/24/2026 11:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HONOLULU---CSUN Men's Basketball could not overcome a red-hot shooting Hawai'i team in the second half, falling 89-68 on Saturday night inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The Matador starting lineup accounted for 65 of the 68 points of the night as Larry Hughes II had a team-high 19 points while Mahmoud Fofana chipped in with 14 points and five rebounds. Joshua O'Garro also had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Trailing by just six at the half, the Matadors were outscored 49-34 in the second half.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN struggled to a 2-of-8 start to the floor while Hawai'i was just 1-of-8 to open the game as the score was deadlocked at 4-4 through three-plus minutes. Gytis Nemeiksa broke the tie with a three and Dre Bullock began a 6-2 Rainbow Warrior run, putting CSUN behind 14-8. Despite its troubles on the offensive end in the first half (35.7 percent), the Matadors remained close as O'Garro scored on a second-chance bucket at the 10:31 mark to make it a 16-12 game. The Bows would extend their lead to 22-14 with 8:52 left in the first half, but Fofana answered on the other end with a layup. CSUN made a push near the seven-minute mark, going on a 7-0 run with James Evans Jr. nodding the game at 25-25. However, Hawai'i wasted little time reclaiming the lead on a layup from Isaac Finlinson. Despite a pair of late threes from O'Garro and Jai Chisolm, Hawai'i went into halftime ahead 40-34, punctuated by a late three from Isaac Johnson.

While CSUN held Hawai'i to 34.3 percent shooting in the first half, the second half would be an entirely different story. A Hughes three opened the second half, but Hawai'i scored the next 12 points. Johnson sank another three at the 16:34 mark, extending the lead further to 55-39. The Rainbow Warriors scored with regularity in the second half, making 64 percent of their shots including going 7-of-14 from three. The Matadors would pull to within 62-50 when Josiah Davis scored inside the paint with 11:42 to go, but the Bows scored the next four points to stop the momentum. Hunter Erickson later hit another from downtown at the 8:42 mark while the lead swelled to 73-53 when Nemeiksa scored a pair at the free throw line. Hawai'i would lead by as many as 23 points down the stretch.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN drops to 11-10 overall and 4-5 in Big West play while Hawai'i improves to 15-4 overall and 7-2 in conference to remain in first place in the Big West.
The Matadors finished at 38.0 percent shooting, going 5-of-19 from three (38.0 percent) and just 9-of-19 at the free throw line (47.4 percent). Hawai'i shot 46.7 percent overall, making 12-of-30 from three (40.0 percent) and 21-of-29 at the free throw line (72.4 percent).
The Rainbow Warriors out-rebounded the Matadors 44-42. CSUN led in points in the paint, 36-28.
Hawai'i topped CSUN 31-3 in bench points.
O'Garro notched his 10th double-double of the season.
Fofana became the 20th Matador in school history to reach 500 career rebounds.
Davis had 11 points and eight assists while Evans finished with 10 points in his first start of the season.
For Hawai'i, Johnson had a team-high 18 points.

ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"It was a very disappointing night for us and CSUN fans. We've got to find a way to defend better in the second half. That's winning time and when all of it really matters. We're not performing to the best of our abilities. Until we do, these are going to be the tough outcomes that come with that. Tough lesson to learn, but obviously, if you play the first place team on their home court and you're not bringing your best, it's going to sting. And we got stung tonight."

UP NEXT
CSUN opens a two-game homestand on Thursday, Jan. 29 against UC Davis at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN+ with Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister on the call.

#GoMatadors