CSUN can’t slow UCSB’s shooters in Big West Tournament loss
The Cal State Northridge men’s basketball team showed it could trade baskets with UC Santa Barbara in their Big West Conference Tournament quarterfinal on Thursday night, just not the 3-point variety.
UCSB sharpshooters Stephan Swenson and Cole Anderson took turns burying long-distance shots, and the Matadors couldn’t come close to matching the duo on the other end, resulting in a 78-72 loss at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada.
“They kept us off-balance the whole 40 minutes,” CSUN coach Andy Newman said of UCSB. “We just couldn’t quite get into a rhythm.”
The fifth-seeded Gauchos (21-12) advanced to face top-seeded UC San Diego (28-4) in the first semifinal on Friday at 6 p.m. Second-seeded UC Irvine (27-5) will face either No. 3 seed UC Riverside or No. 7 Cal Poly in the second semifinal, Friday at 8:30 p.m.
The fourth-seeded Matadors (22-10), meanwhile, head home after tying a program record for wins in a season.
“Really proud of our guys and the effort they gave and what they’ve done to this school,” Newman said.
Swenson (25 points) and Anderson (16 points) combined to shoot 12 for 25 from 3-point range, while the Matadors were just 4 for 15 as a team.
Those numbers were no surprise to the Gauchos after Anderson was the top 3-point shooter in the Big West during the regular season at 48.4% and Swenson was No. 2 at 44.4%.
Anderson said the Gauchos were motivated after losing both regular-season games against CSUN, including a 103-77 blowout in Northridge on March 1.
“Last time we played them at their place, it was a record for how many points we’ve given up, so we really took that personal,” Anderson said.
UCSB built a seven-point lead by halftime and CSUN could never completely reel in the Gauchos in the second half.
Making a comeback more difficult for CSUN was the loss of leading scorer Marcus Adams Jr. (16.5 ppg) to a first-half knee injury that kept him out for most of the second half.
“Somebody’s got to step up and pull the weight of your leading scorer going down, which is hard to do,” CSUN coach Andy Newman said. “We felt a little bit of that.”
The Matadors also committed 21 turnovers, leading to several easy chances on the other end for the Gauchos and offsetting CSUN’s 42-27 rebounding advantage.
Keonte Jones had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead CSUN (22-10), which also held the Gauchos to 37.7% shooting overall while shooting 45.5%.
“You could see his competitive desire tonight,” Newman said of Jones. “He wanted to win. It means a lot to him.”
Mahmoud Fofana scored 17 points for the Matadors, but committed a crucial moving screen violation with 15 seconds left and his team trailing by three. Scotty Washington was the other player in double figures for CSUN with 14 points.
The Matadors were within four with 12:55 left in the game and, even after a four-point play by Anderson with 6:45 left extended the lead back to 69-58, CSUN kept clawing back, pulling within three on a pull-up jumper by Washington with 48 seconds left.
The Matadors got the ball back trailing by three, but Swenson drew the moving screen violation on Fofana and UCSB secured the win at the free-throw line.
“Any time in March, you have to be able to survive and stay poised on all runs,” UCSB coach Joe Pasternack said.
The Matadors scored 58 points in the first half when they beat UCSB earlier this month, but only managed 28 first-half points in the rematch.
Swenson made three 3-pointers in just over three minutes early in the first half to help the Gauchos to a 14-9 lead.
The Matadors briefly moved ahead 18-16 on a 3-pointer by Jones with 11:11 left, but UCSB came back with an 8-0 run highlighted by two 3s from Anderson and a dunk off a lob by Max Murrell.
Swenson’s steal and layup capped another 7-0 run and gave UCSB its biggest lead of the first half at 35-26 before CSUN cut it to 35-28 at the break.
Adams slipped near midcourt while trying to defend Anderson following his steal with 4:02 left in the half and he left in discomfort.
Adams didn’t start the second half but re-entered with 18:20 left. He then left at the first media timeout and did not return.
“Guys came in and pulled the load, but obviously it’s tough to win a game when your leading scorer goes out,” Newman said.