CSUN Edges UCSB in OT Thriller After Late Comeback

Thursday, February 19

Santa Barbara, Calif.

6:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

17-10,10-5Big West

UC Santa Barbara

17-10,10-6Big West

OT 1

CSUN

UC Santa Barbara

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Edges UCSB in OT Thriller After Late Comeback

2/19/2026 9:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.---Down by as many as 13 points, CSUN Men's Basketball erased a four-point deficit with 16 seconds remaining to force overtime before prevailing 85-83 over UC Santa Barbara on Thursday evening at the Thunderdome. Josiah Davis scored a career-high 31 points to go with 14 rebounds and seven assists while Joshua O'Garro added 20 points and eight rebounds and Mahmoud Fofana posted 14 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out late in regulation.

With the thrilling victory, CSUN won its sixth straight game and moved into second place in the Big West standings.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Matadors trailed 76-72 in the final seconds of regulation before pulling off a stunning comeback. Needing a quick bucket, CSUN picked up a putback layup from O'Garro off a missed three from Larry Hughes II. From there, UCSB in-bounded the ball, but a CSUN trap in the corner, forced a turnover. With 12 seconds remaining, Davis quickly found an open Grady Lewis for the tying bucket. The Gauchos could not come away with the game winner moments later as the game went into overtime.

We are tied!!!!

CSUN scores 4 points in 4 seconds to send this one to overtime!#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/OMzaEqQGVK
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) February 20, 2026

In the extra session, the teams exchanged leads before Davis scored on a drive to the cup for an 80-79 advantage. Hughes would hit another jumper after a CSUN defensive stop, giving the Matadors a three-point lead with two minutes to play. CSUN held UCSB without a field goal for the final 3:35 of overtime, but the Gauchos managed to pull to within 85-83 with 18 seconds to go. Davis, who had made three free throws in the overtime period, missed on two attempts, giving UCSB one last chance. Zion Sensley had a last second look at three, but it went off the mark as Lewis came away with the defensive rebound as time expired.

In the first half, CSUN got off to a slow start, making just 1-of-12 field goals but stayed within striking distance due to its defense. The Matadors trailed by just a 19-10 margin near the midway point of the first half when they turned the half around with a 12-3 run. O'Garro, who scored 15 first-half points, tied the game up at 24-24 on a layup while CSUN went into the break with a 32-27 lead behind a 10-3 run over the final 4:47 of the first half.

The Matadors extended to a 34-27 lead early in the second half, however, the Gauchos were far from done. After a Davis three-point play making it a 36-31 game, UCSB went on a 24-6 run as the home team drained five threes over that stretch. CSUN looked up at a 55-42 deficit with 9:22 to go, but showed little quit down the stretch. The Matadors soon went on a 16-2 run, taking the lead once more on a Davis drive to the hoop.

A 16-2 run!

Josiah Davis the finish and CSUN takes a 58-57 lead. #GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/0MoffY7yyD
— CSUN Men's Basketball (@CSUNMBB) February 20, 2026

The Gauchos took a 65-62 lead on an Aidan Mahaney three before Davis scored the next four CSUN points to reclaim the lead. CJ Shaw broke a 69-69 tie with another three with 47 seconds left to go and UCSB eventually took a 74-69 lead. The Matadors though scored seven of the final nine points of regulation before edging the Gauchos in overtime.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN improved to 17-10 overall and 10-5 in Big West play while UCSB slipped to 17-10 overall and 10-6 in league action.
The Matadors shot 38.8 percent overall while making 3-of-17 threes (17.6 percent) and 20-of-30 free throws (66.7 percent). The Gauchos were held to 33.8 percent shooting for the night but made 13-of-40 threes (32.5 percent) and 26-of-32 free throws (81.3 percent).
CSUN won the rebounding battle, 52-49 while the Matadors also led 20-2 in points off turnovers and 52-16 in points in the paint.
In turnovers, CSUN committed just six compared to UC Santa Barbara's 16.
The starting trio of Fofana, Hughes and James Evans Jr. all fouled out.
Davis finished 10-of-24 from the field and 11-of-15 from the free throw line.
The Matadors have swept the regular season series with UC Santa Barbara.

ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"What a great performance from these guys. I'm having so much fun watching them play. I have the best seat in the house and they're playing at such a high level right now. I'm so proud of them. We had main guys foul out and these guys still came together as a team. Our timeouts were incredible -- guys are coaching themselves. It's really fun to be a part of right now."

On Josiah Davis' performance
"Incredible. Just an unbelievable performance again. He made big free throws. But you cannot stop him. I think the league's starting to figure that out. He's as good a penetrator as I've ever coached and in the country. I promise that."

UP NEXT
CSUN stays on the road to face Long Beach State on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister have the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.

#GoMatadors