Saturday, January 3
Northridge, Calif.
1:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
9-7,2-2Big West
74
vs
65
UC Santa Barbara
9-6,2-2Big West
1
2
F
UC Santa Barbara
26
39
65
CSUN
34
40
74
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Grinds Out 74-65 Win Over UCSB
1/3/2026 3:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Basketball pulled out a gritty 74-65 victory over UC Santa Barbara on Saturday afternoon at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Larry Hughes II topped the Matadors with 23 points to go with four steals while Mahmoud Fofana posted 14 points and 11 rebounds. Josiah Davis chipped in with 12 points and Joshua O'Garro had 11 points as well. CSUN never trailed in the game and outscored the Gauchos 18-9 to end the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN would come out strong defensively at the start, forcing UC Santa Barbara into nine consecutive misses to begin the contest. Meanwhile, the Matadors jumped out to a 14-0 lead with Hughes providing 10 of those points. The Gauchos finally ended the dry spell with 14:20 left on the clock before clawing back to within 14-9 on free throws from Aidan Mahaney. CSUN though scored the next six points as Hughes drained another three for a 20-9 lead. CSUN held a double-digit lead at 23-13, but UCSB responded with an 8-0 run to pull to within 23-21 with 6:43 on the clock. However, the Matadors never gave up the lead down the stretch of the first half. An Aleks Szymczyk layup followed by four late free throws over the final three minutes of action gave CSUN a 34-26 edge at halftime.
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The Matadors, who shot at 40.7 percent in the first half, would go on to shoot at a near 60 percent clip in the second half. Out of the halftime break, the Gauchos picked up a three-point play from Hosana Kitenge, but Hughes answered quickly for CSUN on the other end with back-to-back baskets. The Matadors would build a 43-34 lead when Fofana scored on a second-chance basket with 12:12 to go. However, UCSB did not go away quietly as a 7-1 run, capped by a CJ Shaw fastbreak layup the cut the deficit to 48-45. CSUN took a slim 54-50 lead, but UCSB eventually drew even at 56-56 following consecutive threes from Marvin McGhee IV and Zion Sensley. On the ensuing possession, CSUN reclaimed the lead after Davis split two free throws then the Matadors forced a turnover, leading to a Davis layup inside for a 59-56 advantage with 4:41 to go. After UCSB pulled to within 59-58, CSUN turned up its defense and went on to record six consecutive defensive stops. During that span, CSUN received two timely baskets from Fofana and a driving layup from Davis to extend to a 67-58 lead with 2:01 to play. Over the final minute of play, CSUN made seven of eight free throws to seal the victory.
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NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"Happy to come out with a W. That's a good Santa Barbara team that we just beat. Really proud of our team's response to the loss to Davis. This is a team that's got some guts and some character and that was really fun to see again."
UP NEXT
CSUN will stay at home to take on Cal Poly on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN would come out strong defensively at the start, forcing UC Santa Barbara into nine consecutive misses to begin the contest. Meanwhile, the Matadors jumped out to a 14-0 lead with Hughes providing 10 of those points. The Gauchos finally ended the dry spell with 14:20 left on the clock before clawing back to within 14-9 on free throws from Aidan Mahaney. CSUN though scored the next six points as Hughes drained another three for a 20-9 lead. CSUN held a double-digit lead at 23-13, but UCSB responded with an 8-0 run to pull to within 23-21 with 6:43 on the clock. However, the Matadors never gave up the lead down the stretch of the first half. An Aleks Szymczyk layup followed by four late free throws over the final three minutes of action gave CSUN a 34-26 edge at halftime.
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CAN'T GUARD 2?@Sn1perSmooth completes the and-one to get to 8 early points.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/4Nc4cz29iU
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) January 3, 2026
The Matadors, who shot at 40.7 percent in the first half, would go on to shoot at a near 60 percent clip in the second half. Out of the halftime break, the Gauchos picked up a three-point play from Hosana Kitenge, but Hughes answered quickly for CSUN on the other end with back-to-back baskets. The Matadors would build a 43-34 lead when Fofana scored on a second-chance basket with 12:12 to go. However, UCSB did not go away quietly as a 7-1 run, capped by a CJ Shaw fastbreak layup the cut the deficit to 48-45. CSUN took a slim 54-50 lead, but UCSB eventually drew even at 56-56 following consecutive threes from Marvin McGhee IV and Zion Sensley. On the ensuing possession, CSUN reclaimed the lead after Davis split two free throws then the Matadors forced a turnover, leading to a Davis layup inside for a 59-56 advantage with 4:41 to go. After UCSB pulled to within 59-58, CSUN turned up its defense and went on to record six consecutive defensive stops. During that span, CSUN received two timely baskets from Fofana and a driving layup from Davis to extend to a 67-58 lead with 2:01 to play. Over the final minute of play, CSUN made seven of eight free throws to seal the victory.
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Clutch down the stretch.
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) January 3, 2026
Josiah Davis puts the home team ahead by 7 with 2:20 left.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/H0IRJlk1uY
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN improves to 9-7 overall and 2-2 in Big West play while UC Santa Barbara slips to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in conference.
- The Matadors shot 49.0 percent for the night while making 3-of-18 from three (16.7 percent) and 23-of-37 from the free throw line (62.2 percent). The Gauchos finished at 34.4 percent shooting to go with 6-of-30 makes from three (20.0 percent) and 17-of-20 shots made at the free throw line (85.0 percent).
- CSUN out-rebounded UCSB 43-34 for the game. The Matadors also led 36-30 in points in the paint and 16-10 in points off turnovers.
- Fofana posted his second double-double of the season while he made 7-of-10 shots from the field.
- Hughes was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line and he shot 7-of-15 from the floor.
- CSUN won its ninth straight at Premier America Credit Union Arena, dating back to last season, while the Matadors improved to 7-0 at home this season.
- UCSB's Shaw had a team-high 20 points.
ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"Happy to come out with a W. That's a good Santa Barbara team that we just beat. Really proud of our team's response to the loss to Davis. This is a team that's got some guts and some character and that was really fun to see again."
UP NEXT
CSUN will stay at home to take on Cal Poly on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
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Team Stats
UCSB
CSUN
FG%
.344
.490
3FG%
.200
.167
FT%
.850
.622
RB
34
43
TO
14
16
STL
7
8
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
14
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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