Cal State Northridge (CSUN) Men’s Basketball aims to solidify its position at the top of the Big West standings as they prepare to host UC Irvine this Thursday at 7 p.m. The matchup promises an electrifying contest between two first-place teams, and the Matadors will also travel to UC Riverside for a Saturday game at 5 p.m. Both games are set to be streamed live on ESPN+ and will have audio broadcasts available at GoMatadors.com/Radio.
Currently on a seven-game winning streak, CSUN holds an overall record of 18-10 and is tied with UC Irvine and Hawai’i with a conference record of 11-5. As the season approaches its conclusion, the Big West standings remain highly competitive, with UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, and Cal State Fullerton each at 10-7, and UC San Diego closely trailing at 9-7. With only four league games left on the schedule, the outcome of this week’s games will have significant playoff implications. Notably, the Matadors hold tiebreakers against UCSB, UC San Diego, and Cal Poly, who currently occupies the final postseason spot at 8-8.
CSUN’s recent performances have been impressive, including a thrilling 85-83 overtime victory over UC Santa Barbara, where they overcame a 13-point deficit and secured a game-tying basket in the final seconds. The standout player, Lamine Diane, executed a remarkable game with a career-high of 31 points and 14 rebounds. Following that, CSUN narrowly defeated Long Beach State 78-76, further extending their winning streak. Diane again led the team, contributing 21 points and nine assists.
Recognition has also come to CSUN’s senior point guard, Darius Brown II, who was recently named the Lute Olson Award National Player of the Week. His exceptional performance during the last week included averaging 26 points and leading the team in assists, solidifying his impact on the court.
In addition, the Matadors made a notable achievement by tying a Division I school record with seven consecutive victories, matching the streak established by the 2000-01 team. Their overall program record of nine straight wins remains, set during their Division II era in the late 60s and early 80s.
CSUN’s strong roster includes senior guard Elijah Hughes, who has excelled in his first year, ranking second in the Big West with an average of 18.2 points per game. Moreover, he ranks among national leaders in 3-pointers made. The leadership of Darius Brown II at the point guard position has been equally impressive, placing him among the top in the nation for assists.
As for UC Irvine, they enter the week at a competitive 18-10 overall and 11-5 in conference play. The Anteaters, who were considered favorites at the beginning of the season, are coming off a victory against Long Beach State but recently fell to UC San Diego. With their robust defensive statistics, including leading the league in scoring defense and blocks per game, they present a formidable challenge.
The Matadors face a crucial test against UC Irvine, who has historically dominated the matchup. Despite UC Irvine leading the all-time series 46-26, CSUN aims to change that narrative at home, where their last victory against the Anteaters occurred in 2014. Following the showdown with UCI, CSUN will visit Cal State Bakersfield before wrapping up the regular season on Senior Night against Cal State Fullerton.
The stage is set for an exciting week ahead for CSUN Men’s Basketball, and fans are hopeful for continued success as they look to secure their place in the upcoming postseason.