UC Davis defeats CSU Northridge 89-80
CSU Northridge Falls Short at UC Davis
The University Credit Union Center was electric on Saturday night as the UC Davis Aggies hosted their conference foes, the CSU Northridge Matadors, in a battle that would determine which team's momentum would carry over into the second half of the season. In the end, it was the home squad that emerged victorious, with a 89-80 win.
As the clock ticked down to halftime, UC Davis held a slim 38-33 lead, but they continued to pull away in the second half, eventually building a 17-point advantage at one point. Despite CSU Northridge's late push, the Aggies were able to maintain their composure and secure the 9-point victory.
UC Davis was led by senior guard Connor Sevilla, who poured in 23 points on 5-of-10 three-point shooting. The Redondo Beach native also chipped in eight rebounds and five assists. On the other side of the court, CSU Northridge's Josiah Davis led the charge with 21 points, but his team struggled to contain Sevilla and the Aggies' potent offense.
The game was a defensive struggle at times, with both teams combining for just over 50% shooting from the field. However, UC Davis's ability to find open looks from beyond the arc ultimately proved decisive. The Aggies knocked down 15-of-30 three-point attempts, including five in the first half alone.
For CSU Northridge, the loss was a setback in what has been a promising season thus far. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to overcome the deficit that had grown too large by halftime. The Matadors will look to bounce back from this defeat when they travel to face another conference opponent next week.
The win at home for UC Davis marked their fourth consecutive victory and gives them renewed hope of making a push for the top spot in the conference standings. With their potent offense and stifling defense, the Aggies are looking like a team on the rise.
In a game that was tightly contested until the very end, the difference-maker came down to the Aggies' ability to find the bottom of the net from beyond the arc. When they did, it was often too much for CSU Northridge to handle.
The loss drops CSU Northridge's conference record to 2-3, while UC Davis improves to 4-2.