NORTHRIDGE – CSUN Men’s Basketball (9-12, 3-2 BWC) returns to Big West action on Wednesday evening as the Matadors visit Cal State Fullerton at 7:00 p.m. The game will air live on ESPN3 while an audio-only broadcast is available on the CSUN Sports Network presented by Dignity Health with Ghizal Hasan and Alan Zinsmeister on the call.

The Matadors got back in the winning column with an 86-71 triumph over Long Beach State last Wednesday at The Matadome. After leading by five at the half, the Matadors pulled away in the final minutes to win by double-digits for the first time this season. CSUN outscored the Beach 16-7 over the final 5:11 of the game.

Five Matadors scored in double figures, led by sophomore Terrell Gomez with 21 points. Freshman Jared Pearre made his first start of his career and made the most of it, posting a career-high 16 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Rodney Henderson Jr. had 17 points while freshman Darius Brown II added 12 points and seven assists. Fighting through foul trouble, freshman Lamine Diane chipped in with 14 points in 24 minutes.

With three more 3-pointers last Wednesday, Gomez has now hit the third-most 3-pointers in a single season in Matador history. His 78 3-pointers tied Josh Greene (2013-14) on the list. Gomez can move up to second place, currently occupied by Deon Tresvant (2007-08), with five more 3-pointers. Kyle Kerlegan holds the single-season mark with 98 3-pointers, which was set in 1990-91. Gomez is also sixth all-time in career 3-pointers made with 143.

Despite being limited with foul trouble against Long Beach State, Diane enters the week third in the nation in field goals made in addition to ninth in rebounds per game (10.9) and 12th in points per game (23.5). He leads all freshmen in rebounding while he is third in scoring. Diane is one of two freshmen to average a double-double on the year as he shares the honor with Alexis Yetna from South Florida.

The Matadors pace the Big West in points per game (78.1), field goals made per game (29.0), field goal percentage (47.4), assists per game (16.5) and blocks per game (4.6). Three Matadors are in the Top 10 in scoring, led by Diane and followed by Gomez in second place (20.1) and Henderson Jr. in 10th place (13.2). Diane also leads the league in rebounds per game and blocks per game (2.3) while Gomez is tops in 3-point field goals made.

Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series with CSUN, 44-34, and has won the past four meetings. Last season, CSUN fell at Titan Gym 88-70 and dropped a 102-76 decision at The Matadome to end its 2017-18 campaign. The teams have split the last six meetings in Fullerton with the Matadors posting wins in 2017 (70-65), 2016 (75-67) and 2013 (92-86).

A Closer Look at Cal State Fullerton
After starting Big West play 0-2, the Titans (8-12, 4-2 BWC) have won four-straight games. Last week, Fullerton beat UC Santa Barbara 81-60 and picked up a road win at Cal Poly, 80-63. Last season’s Big West Tournament champions are first in the Big West in defensive rebounds per game (28.4) and second in free throw percentage (70.3). Head coach Dedrique Taylor is in his sixth season at the helm of the Titans.

Just behind Diane and Gomez on the Big West’s Top 10 scoring list, senior Kyle Allman is third in the conference in scoring at 18.4 points followed by senior Khalil Ahmad at 17.8 points per game. Allman shoots 38.0 percent from 3-point range while Ahmad averages 1.7 steals and 3.9 rebounds. Reigning Big West Player of the Week, junior Jackson Rowe is third in the Big West in rebounding (7.4) while he averages 10.6 points.