The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team lost to California State University, Northridge (CSUN) 84-60 on Saturday night at the Premier America Credit Union Arena. CSUN maintained control throughout the game, shooting 53 percent from the field and securing their fifth consecutive victory.
Despite this defeat, Hawai’i (18-6 overall, 10-4 in Big West play) remains at the top of the Big West standings. Their closest competitor, UC Santa Barbara, also lost on Saturday at Cal Poly and stays behind Hawai’i.
A month earlier, Hawai’i had beaten CSUN by 21 points in what was CSUN’s largest loss of the season. In this rematch, however, CSUN reversed fortunes and handed Hawai’i its biggest loss of the year. The Matadors improved their home record to 12-1.
CSUN’s Larry Hughes II led all scorers with 27 points—22 coming in the first half—and Josiah Davis contributed 20 points along with five assists. For Hawai’i, Isaac Finlinson was the only player to score in double digits, finishing with 13 points.
Hawai’i entered the game leading the nation in three-point field goal percentage defense but struggled against CSUN’s shooters. The Matadors made nine out of seventeen three-point attempts; Hughes alone hit four out of five from long range in the first half.
CSUN started strong by scoring ten of the first twelve points and established a double-digit lead within five minutes. By halftime, they led 40-28 as Hawai’i shot just 30 percent from the field and committed ten turnovers that resulted in seventeen CSUN points.
Early in the second half, Hawai’i narrowed the gap to seven points before CSUN responded with a decisive 20-5 run to extend their lead to twenty-two points. The Matadors shot 62 percent after halftime and built their advantage to as many as thirty points before closing out the win.
Hawai’i finished shooting 36 percent for the game and recorded eighteen turnovers.
The Rainbow Warriors will return home for two games: facing Cal Poly on Thursday, February 19 at 7 p.m., followed by a nationally televised matchup against UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, February 21 at 5 p.m., when UH will retire former player AC Carter’s jersey.
