CSUN Edges Bakersfield, 86-84, on Davis' Game Winner

Thursday, March 5

Bakersfield, Calif.

6:30 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

19-12,12-7Big West

Cal State Bakersfield

8-23,2-17Big West

CSUN

CSU Bakersfield

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Edges Bakersfield, 86-84, on Davis' Game Winner

3/5/2026 10:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.---Josiah Davis scored a go-ahead layup with five seconds left to play as CSUN Men's Basketball held on for an 86-84 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday at the Icardo Center. Joshua O'Garro posted a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds while Mahmoud Fofana finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. The tandem of Davis and Larry Hughes II chipped in 14 points each.

With the win, CSUN remained in the third spot in the Big West standings with one game remaining.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Playing in yet another one possession game in the final seconds, the Matadors would find the game winner when Davis broke down the defense and scored on an acrobat finish at the hoop to put CSUN on top 86-84. The Roadrunners though had one last look at the net in the final seconds when CJ Hardy drove to the basket. However, Hardy's shot rimmed out as time expired, securing a CSUN victory.

Earlier in the contest, CSUN dug a 10-4 role in the early going and would have to play catch up for most of the first half. Ronald Jessamy knocked down a jumper at the 14:43 mark for an eight-point lead while a 7-1 run near the midway point of the period put the Matadors behind by double digits at 26-16. CSUN struggled to just 30 percent shooting in the opening stanza but managed to chip away at the deficit. Grady Lewis scored five straight CSUN points, cutting the deficit to 28-23 while the Matador defense held the Roadrunners scoreless for a four-minute stretch. During the CSUB dry spell, the Matadors went on a 13-0 run with Lewis capping the run with a tip-in layup. CSUN held a 36-30 lead with 1:12 in the first half, but Bakersfield scored the final four points of the half to cut the deficit to 36-34 at intermission.

CSUN flipped the script offensively in the second half, shooting at 65 percent, but Bakersfield kept pace with the Matadors. Davius Loury gave CSUN a lift with seven straight Matador points. However, the Roadrunners matched each basket as the score was deadlocked at 43-43. A Dailin Smith three gave the home team a 48-45 edge, but the Matadors responded with a 10-0 run, capped by a Hughes three. At the 11-minute mark, O'Garro nailed a three, and Hughes followed with a jumper in the paint to put CSUN ahead by its biggest margin at 65-55. The Matadors held a 77-69 lead with 6:14 to go, but the Roadrunners made a push moments later. An 8-2 run, closed by a Smith three, suddenly cut the deficit to 79-77. Mike Price would even the game at 82-82 with 2:18 to go before the teams traded big baskets in the final moments. O'Garro scored inside to put the Matadors ahead while Hardy returned the favor, squaring the game at 84-84.

In the final seconds, Davis' heroics finally gave CSUN the lead for the good, securing the Matador road win.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN improves to 19-12 overall and 12-7 in Big West play while Cal State Bakersfield slips to 8-23 overall and 2-17 in conference.
The Matadors finished at 45.8 percent overall with 6-of-27 makes from three (22.2 percent) and 14-of-18 makes from the free throw line (77.8 percent). The Roadrunners shot 44.9 percent overall while hitting 8-of-24 threes (33.3 percent) and 14-of-22 free throws (63.6 percent).
CSUN out-rebounded Bakersfield 50-34 while the Matadors led 48-38 in points in the paint.
Off the bench, Lewis finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
Fofana scored all 15 of his points in the second half. He also went 6-of-11 from the floor overall.
O'Garro's double-double was his 13th of the season.
For CSUB, Jessamy and Smith had 23 points each.

ACCORDING TO COACH ANDY NEWMAN
"It's March and every game is going to be like this. It doesn't matter what you've done up to this moment. This one means a lot because it's preparing us for what we're going to see in March. Every game is going to come down to one block out and one defensive stop. Thankfully, we were on the right end of this one."

UP NEXT
The Matadors wrap up the regular season on Saturday for Senior Night against Cal State Fullerton. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. on ESPN+ with Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister on the call.

#GoMatadors