CSUN men’s basketball has longed for consistency. After setting a program record with 22 wins during the previous 2024-2025 season, the Matadors have seen top talent leave via the transfer portal.
Head coach Andy Newman and his staff stayed prepared throughout the course of the offseason, scouting who could potentially replace talent the team had lost. Despite the losses, the Matadors currently sit at 16-10 with a 9-5 conference record.
For this season, Newman found three diamonds in the rough players who were not getting the right opportunities at their previous schools.
“We just went into the transfer portal and researched some guys, kind of put our fingers on a few guys, like Larry Hughes II, Josiah Davis and Joshua O’Garro,” Newman said. “Those were three guys who we felt would be really good for us and, you know, now they are producing a lot for us now.”
Hughes currently leads the team in scoring, averaging 19.0 points per game, which ranks second in the Big West, with the Matadors boasting the second best offense in the Big West. Davis ranks first in the nation for assists, averaging 7.2 a game.
Sharing is caring and no one does it better than the Matadors statistically. When it comes to O’Garro, he ranks first in the conference in rebounding at 9.6 a game. His teammate Mahmoud Fofana is not far behind at 7.7 rebounds per game, ranking third in the Big West.
Fafona is one of the Matadors’ unsung heroes. He could have left to seek other opportunities after last season, but he chose to stay loyal. Having a strong relationship with Newman contributed to his decision to remain with the Matadors.
After averaging 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds last season, Fafona has upped his numbers to 11.5 points per game and, as previously stated, 7.7 rebounds per game.
“I knew that my role would increase. So, over the summer I just worked on the things I needed to improve on that would help the team, and I just tried to do that to the best of my ability so far it has paid off,” Fofana said.
The Matadors have won eight out of their last 11 games and are currently riding a five-game winning streak. CSUN has relied on consistent offense and some of the best defense the team has played all season during this stretch.
Both of these aspects were on full display in the team’s most recent game, which took place Saturday at home against top seed Hawai’i in a dominant 84-60 victory.
Hughes attested to the team’s defensive abilities and strong bench presence that led to the Matadors’ victory.
“I think our defense is what’s going to carry us in big-time games like that,” Hughes said. “We also have guys that can really play, make and score. We have a great bench – guys like Jai Chisolm have been spark plugs for us off the bench the last couple of games.”
With the win over the Rainbow Warriors, CSUN garnered a home record of 12-1. The 12 is important because it is the most home wins since the 2013-2014 season. Newman credited the changing of culture, the team loving to play in front of the home crowd and the growing Matador fan base.
“After year two, we got some excitement. We’re continuing that excitement now, and the fan base continues to grow and grow,” Newman said. “Our guys feel that, and you see on national television, like Kansas and Iowa State. Those fan bases carry teams across the finish line, and I think what you’re seeing is the same thing here in the Valley.”
The road to consecutive first round byes in the Big West conference tournament is right in front of CSUN with just six games remaining. The regular season title is not out of reach either, as the Matadors are only one game out of first place.
Four of their final six games will be on the road, where the team has struggled with a 4-7 record. Newman valued improvement when asked about this final stretch of the season, while Fofana preached communication, which he felt is the team’s biggest strength in righting the wrongs of last season.
The final stretch starts Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. on the road against UC Santa Barbara. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
