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CSUN routs Cal State Fullerton for 3rd straight win

February 7, 2025

NORTHRIDGE — Two teams headed in opposite directions squared off Thursday night, and nothing changed for either side.

Marcus Adams Jr. had 21 points and Keonte Jones scored all 18 of his in the second half, as the Cal State Northridge men’s basketball team cruised to an 82-63 victory over last-place Cal State Fullerton at the Matadome.

It was the third straight win for CSUN (16-7 overall, 8-4 Big West Conference), which is off to its best start in conference play since the 2008-09 season and moved into a tie for third place with UC Riverside (15-9, 8-4). The Matadors and Highlanders are both two games behind second-place UC San Diego (19-4, 9-2).

Adams and Jones both filled up the stat sheet. Adams shot 5 for 11 from 3-point range and had seven rebounds and four steals, while Jones grabbed 12 rebounds, six assists, five steals and three blocked shots. Tyler Beard had a season-high 12 points and tied his career high with nine assists for the Matadors, who had a season-best 14 steals and tied their season high with 25 assists.

Donovan Oday had 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting (3 for 4 from 3-point range) to lead the Titans (6-18, 1-11), who lost their fourth straight. Kaleb Brown added 11 points and two steals, and Keith Richards contributed eight points and five rebounds.

Adams made a trio of 3-pointers while helping CSUN to a 20-11 lead with 10:44 left in the first half, but the Titans battled back to get with 22-21. The Matadors regained control and held Fullerton scoreless over the final 4:23 of the first half for a 41-29 halftime lead.

After closing the first half on a 6-0 run, the Matadors opened the second half with an 11-0 surge to break the game open. Five different Matadors scored during the run, which Grady Lewis capped with a jumper for a 52-29 lead. Plagued with foul trouble in the first half, CSUN’s Scotty Washington checked in midway through the second and promptly hit back-to-back 3-pointers. Jones followed with two straight baskets to close a 10-0 run that gave the hosts their biggest lead of the night at 71-42 with 8:42 left.

Fullerton never cut the margin below 19 points the rest of the way.

Northridge shot 43.3% overall and 11 for 33 from 3-point range. Fullerton shot 36.4% overall, 7 of 18 from behind the arc and went 24 for 32 at the free-throw line. CSUN outrebounded the Titans 40-34 and had a 34-10 advantage in points in the paint.

“Defense was great tonight,” CSUN coach Andy Newman said. “It’s fun to watch them play when they’re locked in and we got it from a lot of different people tonight. Scotty getting in foul trouble forced us to get into our bench. Watching Jordan (Brinson) and Tyler defend was fun.”

UP NEXT

CSUN plays at Long Beach State on Saturday at 4 p.m. Fullerton plays host to UC Davis on Saturday at 6 p.m.

BIG WEST STANDINGS

Through Thursday, Feb. 6

UC Irvine – 20-3, 10-1

UC San Diego – 19-4, 9-2

CS Northridge – 16-7, 8-4

UC Riverside – 15-9, 8-4

UC Santa Barbara – 15-8, 7-5

UC Davis – 13-10, 7-5

Hawaii – 13-10, 5-7

CS Bakersfield – 10-14, 4-8

Cal Poly (SLO) – 9-15, 3-9

Long Beach State – 7-17, 3-9

CS Fullerton – 6-18, 1-11

Orange County Register

News Details

CSUN routs Cal State Fullerton for 3rd straight win

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BIG WEST STANDINGS

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