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    Cal State Northridge stuns UCLA, ends Bruins’ 29-game home winning streak
    • December 20, 2023

    Cal State Northridge’s Gianni Hunt celebrates after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against UCLA on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Dylan Andrews drives to the basket during the first half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Adem Bona, right, loses the ball as Cal State Northridge’s Dearon Tucker, left, defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Lazar Stefanovic shoots during the first half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Dylan Andrews, center, drives to the basket between Cal State Northridge’s Dionte Bostick, left, and Jasman Sangha during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Adem Bona drives to the basket as Cal State Northridge’s Jasman Sangha defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Gianni Hunt flexes after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against UCLA on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Gianni Hunt (5) celebrates with teammate Dionte Bostick (0) after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against UCLA on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Aday Mara shoots over Cal State Northridge’s Mahmoud Fofana during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Adem Bona, center, loses the ball as Cal State Northridge’s Keonte Jones defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Will McClendon, right, is treated by a member of the training staff during the first half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Dylan Andrews drives to the basket against Cal State Northridge’s Dionte Bostick during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Keonte Jones, left, fouls UCLA’s Aday Mara (15) during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Keonte Jones, left, fouls UCLA’s Aday Mara (15) during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Adem Bona reaches for a loose ball alongside Cal State Northridge’s Keonte Jones, right, during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Sebastian Mack handles the ball during the first half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Adem Bona grabs a rebound in front of Cal State Northridge’s Jasman Sangha during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Adem Bona protects the ball after grabbing a rebound during the first half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Lazar Stefanovic reacts after a basket during the first half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Adem Bona, right, shoots over Cal State Northridge’s Dearon Tucker during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Dylan Andrews drives to the basket during the first half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Adem Bona reaches for a loose ball in front of Cal State Northridge’s Gianni Hunt, right, during the first half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Adem Bona sits on the court after a foul during the first half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge coach Andy Newman reacts on the sidelines during the second half of their game against UCLA on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s De’Sean Allen-Eikens drives past UCLA’s Will McClendon, left, and Adem Bona during the second half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. CSUN beat UCLA for just the second time in 11 all-time meetings, 76-72, ending the Bruins’ 29-game home winning streak. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Mahmoud Fofana loses the ball during the second half of their game against UCLA on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Sebastian Mack, right, and teammate Dylan Andrews (2) scramble for a loose ball against Cal State Northridge’s Gianni Hunt, second from left, and Mahmoud Fofana, top right, during the second half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Sebastian Mack, right, scrambles for a loose ball against Cal State Northridge’s Gianni Hunt, left, and Mahmoud Fofana, top, during the second half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA coach Mick Cronin reacts on the sideline during the second half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Dionte Bostick, left, gestures after a basket during the second half of their game against UCLA on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s De’Sean Allen-Eikens soars to the basket for a dunk in front of UCLA’s Lazar Stefanovic, left, during the second half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA coach Mick Cronin reacts on the sideline during the second half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Jasman Sangha reacts after a basket during the second half of their game against UCLA on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA coach Mick Cronin, center, reacts as Lazar Stefanovic goes down hard during the second half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s De’Sean Allen-Eikens drives to the basket during the second half of their game against UCLA on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Keonte Jones soars to the basket in front of UCLA’s Adem Bona during the second half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Keonte Jones, left, passes the ball around the defense of UCLA’s Kenneth Nwuba (14) during the second half on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Dionte Bostick shoots during the second half of their game against UCLA on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA assistant coaches look on from the bench during the second half of their upset loss to Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Dionte Bostick drives to the basket during the second half of their game against UCLA on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA players and coaches look on from the bench during the second half of their upset loss to Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Cal State Northridge’s Dionte Bostick, left, celebrates with teammate Bryan Ndjonga after their 76-72 upset of UCLA on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA coach Mick Cronin reacts on the sideline late in the second half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    UCLA’s Lazar Stefanovic stands outside the key during a free throw attempt in the second half of their game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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    LOS ANGELES — A public university in Los Angeles walked out of Pauley Pavilion with a historic win Tuesday night, but it was not the host. The UCLA men’s basketball team trailed Cal State Northridge by as much as 19 points in the second half, rallied to get within one then lost, 76-72, as the Matadors brought the Bruins’ nation-best 29-game home winning streak to an end.

    Junior guard Dionte Bostick had 18 points and seven rebounds to pace CSUN (8-3), which beat UCLA for just the second time in 11 meetings. Senior guard De’Sean Allen-Eikens added 17 points and four rebounds.

    “Our guys really played great,” CSUN coach Andy Newman said. “I’m so excited about how tough they were. Our guys were not scared and they rose to the challenge. We basically played our brand of basketball.”

    The Matadors had not beaten any Pac-12 team since Dec. 21, 2012, and they hadn’t won in Pauley Pavilion since November 2000, a season that resulted in a rare trip to the NCAA Tournament.

    Reserves Mahmoud Fofana added 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Gianni Hunt – a transfer from Sacramento State making his Matadors debut – scored 12. Keonte Jones added 12 points before leaving late due to injury.

    “We’ve got a fragile group. It showed,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “They’re older, more confident. We don’t have anybody when things go bad to rally the troops.”

    Freshman guard Sebastian Mack finished with a career-high 27 points and four rebounds to lead UCLA (5-5), which has lost three games in a row and five of its past seven. Sophomore guard Dylan Andrews had a career-high 22 points, junior guard Lazar Stefanovic had 11 points and sophomore forward Adem Bona added eight points and 10 rebounds.

    “We came out kind of flat in the beginning, it just felt like CSUN, credit to them but I feel like they want it more than us this game,” Andrews said. “They had fire in their eyes and they shot the ball pretty good and we knew for a fact that they were a drive-and-kick team and we were trying to play the game but it didn’t work out the way we wanted it to.”

    The Bruins had a season-high 19 turnovers and shot 37% from the field (20 for 54), including 37.5% from 3-point range (9 for 24), and shot 65.7% at the free-throw line (23 for 35).

    “We failed as a coaching staff because when you have two points of emphasis your job as a coaching staff is to make sure your team adheres to them,” Cronin said. “It’s not like we didn’t know that they were going to drive the ball. Obviously, they hit some hard shots.”

    CSUN’s biggest lead was 45-26 less than two minutes into the second half. UCLA rallied behind Mack and Andrews and eventually closed within 57-56 on a layup by Mack with 7:48 left, but the Bruins never took the lead down the stretch.

    “We can say that once we raised the physicality at the start of the second half, we came back in the game very quickly,” Stefanovic said. “So we showed ourselves the team we can be when we play physical and with high intensity and play together.”

    The Matadors responded with a 6-0 run and built the margin back to nine points when senior guard Gianni Hunt made a 3-pointer for a 68-59 lead with 5:18 left. Stefanovic and Andrews hit 3-pointers to get the Bruins within 71-67 with 1:45 left, but a spinning jump shot by Bostick made it 73-67 with about one minute left. A corner 3-pointer from Andrews cut the margin to 75-70 with 10.1 seconds remaining.

    “We didn’t just give up,” Andrews said. “We fought back.”

    UCLA basketball’s Dylan Andrews and Lazar Stefanovic post game interview after UCLA’s 76-72 loss to Cal State Northridge at Pauley Pavilion Tuesday night. pic.twitter.com/8Acz6TZU3u

    — John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) December 20, 2023

    CSUN then turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds pass, giving the Bruins 9.4 seconds to tie the score but Andrews missed a corner 3-point attempt before he was fouled with 4.3 seconds left as he tried to score off of his own miss. Andrews made both free throws to make it a one-possession game, then UCLA fouled Allen-Eikens with 3.5 seconds left. He missed the first free throw but made the second for a 76-72 lead.

    The Bruins’ 29-game streak included a perfect 17-0 mark at home last season and dated to January 2022.

    UCLA’s only other loss to CSUN was a 78-74 decision on Nov. 21, 2000, at Pauley Pavilion – a Bruins team that included Earl Watson, Jason Kapono and Matt Barnes.

    Cronin went with a new starting lineup Tuesday, using just one traditional post player in Bona. Cronin surrounded Bona with Andrews, Stefanovic, sophomore guard Will McClendon and freshman forward Brandon Williams. Mack, the team’s leading scorer, came off the bench, entering less than one minute into the game when McClendon left briefly with an injury.

    The Matadors raced to an 18-7 lead before UCLA closed to 20-19 with a 12-2 run in a 2½-minute stretch. CSUN unloaded again by outscoring UCLA 20-7 over the final 7:03 of the first half and the Matadors led 40-26 at halftime.

    Bona, Stefanovic and Mack each had six points a piece in the first half. The Bruins shot 29.6% in the first half (8 for 27), including a 2-for-10 showing from 3-point range.

    UP NEXT

    UCLA will host Maryland (7-4) on Friday at 6 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.

    “We don’t even think about Maryland,” Cronin said postgame. “We just worry about practice (Wednesday). That’s all you can do.”

    “You’ve just got to try to get better. … Especially when you’ve got a young team, they need to worry about one thing, try to get better at practice. Because if you don’t get better you’re not going to change your result. You give up 17 layups, you’re not going to change anything.”

    Mick Cronin’s post game interview after UCLA’s 76-72 loss to Cal State Northridge at Pauley Pavilion. pic.twitter.com/wwduhtO0ec

    — John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) December 20, 2023

    CSUN hosts Montana State on Friday at 1 p.m.

    “We are going to look at film and see our potential,” Newman said. “We’re going to see how playing basketball 100 percent of the time looks. Also, it’s going to show us how the game of basketball is played when you don’t take plays off. I just have to prepare these guys for our contest on Friday against Montana State.”

    ​ Orange County Register 

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