FOR STARTERS
CSUN returns to non-conference motion after enjoying its first two Massive West video games final week, incomes a break up. The Matadors have 5 complete non-conference video games left on their schedule, which additionally consists of dwelling video games with La Sierra (Dec. 19) and Sacramento State (Dec. 22) and a street take a look at at Stanford (Dec. 27). As soon as the calendar turns to 2026, CSUN will resume Massive West motion with its remaining 18 league video games, starting Jan. 1 at UC Davis.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN went 1-1 to open Massive West play final week. The Matadors would knock off Cal State Bakersfield of their league opener at Premier America Credit score Union Enviornment by an 87-66 rating on Dec. 4. Two days later, CSUN gave preseason favourite UC Irvine a battle on the Bren Occasions Middle earlier than falling down the stretch, 85-71.
Behind a career-high 27 factors from Larry Hughes II, CSUN knocked off Cal State Bakersfield. The Matadors closed the primary half with an 18-5 run to steer 44-32 on the break. After CSUB closed the hole to 5, CSUN registered a 15-2 spurt close to the halfway level of the second half en path to the victory. The trio of Mahmoud Fofana, Josiah Davis and Joshua O’Garro had 15 factors every within the win. CSUN shot 53.1 p.c total whereas holding CSUB to 35.0 p.c taking pictures.
CSUN would lead a lot of the evening in opposition to UC Irvine, taking a 41-37 lead into halftime, nonetheless, the Anteaters outscored the Matadors 17-4 over the ultimate 5 minutes to choose up the win. The Matadors have been held to 39.4 p.c taking pictures total whereas the Anteaters shot 49.2 p.c and received the rebounding battle 47-32. Hughes was once more the highest Matador scorer, posting 18 whereas Davis (14 factors and 10 assists) and Mahmoud Fofana (11 factors and 11 rebounds) had double-doubles.
MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF
Senior guard Larry Hughes II has loved a breakout season with CSUN in 2025-26. After transferring in from Saint Louis, Hughes is averaging a career-high 17.7 factors per sport, ok for fourth place within the Massive West. Hughes has been particularly efficient from 3-point vary, averaging 3.6 makes per sport to steer the convention. He’s additionally ranked fourth within the Massive West in 3-point share (47.1) whereas he’s sixth in steals per sport at 1.7. Previous to this season, Hughes had scored in double figures in 15 of 65 profession video games, however since arriving at CSUN, he has scored in double figures in eight of 9 video games together with topping 20 factors in 4 video games.
LEADING THE BIG WEST
Newcomers Josiah Davis and Joshua O’Garro have made a distinction of their first seasons with CSUN because the tandem leads the Massive West in assists and rebounding, respectively. Davis, the workforce’s start line guard, tops the league with a 6.1 assists per sport mark. That help common ranks twenty first within the nation whereas Davis is third on the workforce in scoring at 12.9 factors per sport. In the meantime, O’Garro, who missed CSUN’s loss final week at UC Irvine, tops the Massive West in rebounding at 9.8 per sport. O’Garro can be second on the squad in scoring at 13.1 factors on 48.3 p.c taking pictures.
QUICK HITS
Joshua O’Garro presently ranks first within the Massive West in double-doubles with 4 this season. Previous to the 12 months, O’Garro had recorded simply 4 double-doubles on the Division I stage … Josiah Davis has dished out 55 assists on the 12 months, which ranks Twenty seventh-most within the nation. Davis is simply 18 assists away from distributing essentially the most in a season in his school profession … Larry Hughes II has swished a team-best 32 from 3-point vary this season, simply 17 off the tempo from his career-best 49 he made in 2023-24 with Saint Louis … A Preseason All-Massive West honoree, senior Mahmoud Fofana has posted two double-doubles on the season whereas he has topped double figures in scoring 4 occasions. Fofana has averaged a Division I career-high 9.6 factors and seven.9 rebounds to date this 12 months … Junior ahead Davius Loury poured in a season-high 11 factors within the 85-71 loss at UC Irvine on Dec. 6. Loury is averaging 9.0 factors per sport by means of CSUN’s first two Massive West video games … Junior newcomer Jai Chisolm scored a season-best 15 factors to steer CSUN in a loss at Idaho State on Nov. 28.
SCOUTING FRESNO STATE
The Bulldogs are available in at 6-4 on the season after dropping current video games to Cal State Bakersfield (76-71) and nationally-ranked Arkansas (82-58). Previous to these two losses, Fresno State had received 4 straight. Coming off a six-win season final 12 months, Fresno State has already matched that win complete this season. Within the Preseason Mountain West ballot, the Bulldogs have been picked to complete eleventh. Jake Heidbreder leads the workforce and ranks second within the Mountain West in scoring at 18.8 factors per sport on 48.1 p.c taking pictures whereas Zaon Collins is averaging 13.8 factors on 50.5 p.c taking pictures. Wilson Jacques tops the Bulldogs in rebounding, averaging 7.1 per sport.
Sequence Historical past: The Bulldogs lead the Matadors within the all-time sequence 30-6. Fresno State has received two straight conferences, most lately beating CSUN 65-56 in Dec. 2022. The Matadors’ final win within the sequence was a 73-72 triumph in 2019.
SCOUTING DELAWARE
The Fightin’ Blue Hens are 2-6 on the season, falling to Iona (89-66) and Delaware State (75-72) final week. Delaware has gone 1-2 at dwelling this season because the Blue Hens knocked off Saint Peter’s on Nov. 18. After ending as runner-up within the CAA event final season, Delaware transitioned to Convention USA this season. Macon Emory leads the Blue Hens in scoring at 14.5 factors adopted intently by Christian Bliss and Justyn Fernandez at 14.4 factors per sport every. On the glass, Emory additionally posts a team-high 7.9 rebounds per sport on the 12 months.
Sequence Historical past: Saturday would be the first-ever assembly between CSUN and Delaware.
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