The Cal State Northridge men’s basketball team will continue its non-conference schedule as they travel to Colorado state to face Air Force Academy Thursday and the University of Denver Saturday.

The Matadors haven’t faced the Falcons before but have played the Pioneers the last two seasons.

Last season Matador Willie Galick scored a game-high 20 points as CSUN lost 89-82 against Denver at Magness Arena. Similar to how the Matadors have played this season, Northridge got off to a slow start and had to play from behind throughout the game.

CSUN was able to cut the deficit down to two points in the final minutes of the game before the Pioneers pulled away.

Senior guard Raymond Cody said the high elevation bothered the team last season.

“It kind of bothered us a little bit last year but this year I don’t think it will,” Cody said. “If we come out and do what we are suppose to do like playing defense and executing we will be okay.”

Northridge will go into the two games in Colorado with a 2-4 overall record and finishing 1-2 in the 76 Classic.

“It’s a good chance to win two games and pull back to .500,” Cody said. “I think we played well over the weekend at the 76 Classic; we just weren’t able to put it together after a couple of slow starts.”

After the 76 Classic, CSUN head coach Bobby Braswell said he is concerned about the physicality level Air Force and Denver play with.

“We got muscled around and pushed around a little bit (against Tulsa) and we have to get stronger some how before we play on Thursday,” said Braswell after playing the third and final game of the 76 Classic on Sunday. “I don’t know how we are going to do it but we have to get bigger and stronger.”

Air Force, who plays in the Mountain West Conference, is shooting 48 percent from the field and Denver is converting on 43.2 percent of its shoots.

CSUN (34 rpg) is averaging more rebounds than the Falcons (33.2 rpg) and the Pioneers (25.2 rpg).