CSUN Men’s Basketball Wins First Big West Tournament Game in 10 Years

Men's basketball forward Keonte Jones skies over a UCSB player at the basketball. — Junior forward Keonte Jones makes a play in CSUN’s 87-84 win over UCSB, its first win in a Big West Basketball Championships game since 2014. (Chuck Marvel)

[Update, March 15]

One of the most thrilling CSUN Men’s Basketball seasons in years came to an end last night as the Matadors fell to Hawai’i 75-68 in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Hercules Tires Big West Men’s Basketball Championship.

Before the season, the Matadors weren’t expected to make the eight-team tournament. Instead, the team earned 19 wins, its most since the 2007-08 season, upset UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, and on Wednesday won its first postseason game since 2014.

Now the future looks bright under new coach Andy Newman, who brought a running, attacking style of play.

Against Hawai’i, first-team All-Big West forward De’Sean Allen-Eikens scored a team-high 22 points and nine rebounds in his final collegiate game while All-Big West honorable mention guard Dionte Bostck added 18 points. Forward Keonte Jones tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds,

CSUN Athletics has a full recap of the game.

[Original post, March 14]

The CSUN Men’s Basketball team outlasted defending Big West champion UC Santa Barbara last night, 87-84 in overtime, to win a game in the Big West Basketball Championship tournament for the first time since 2014.

CSUN Athletics has a full recap of the game.

Under new coach Andy Newman, CSUN’s fast-paced style of play resulted in 18 wins during the regular season, the most since 2008.

The Matadors exciting season continues at 6 p.m. tonight against third-seeded Hawai’i in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Hercules Tires Big West Men’s Basketball Championship in Henderson, Nev.

The conference championship game is Saturday, March 16. The conference champion earns a spot in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament — known as March Madness.