Box Score March 4, 2010
Final Stats
NORTHRIDGE, Calif - UC Davis nearly overcame a 10-point second-half deficit but eventually fell to Cal State Northridge, 70-66, Thursday night in a Big West Conference men's basketball game at the Matadome. The Aggies trailed 63-53 with 4:50 to play before using an 11-2 run to get within one. The Matadors then sank three free throws in the final 17 seconds to preserve the victory.
Kenny Daniels led Cal State Northridge (11-19, 6-9 Big West) with a game-high 26 points. Mark Payne led UC Davis (12-17, 7-8 Big West) with 18 points. Joe Harden and Dominic Calegari each added 14.
Each team had sizable runs in the second half. Prior to the Aggies' late blitz, the Matadors used a 13-0 run earlier in the period to turn a 41-36 deficit into a 49-41 cushion. UC Davis pulled within 53-48 on a Harden layup at the 8:02 mark, but Cal State Northridge scored the next five points to take the 63-53 lead.
Adam Malik, who finished with seven points, started the run with a bucket. Calegari made a three-pointer with 3:13 left to make it 63-58. After Daniels made two free throws, a Payne jumper was followed by four points from Julian Welch. The redshirt freshman converted two free throws and then a basket with 1:37 left to pull the Aggies within 65-64.
A Daniels' dunk with 26 seconds remaining was followed by two free throws by Payne, and CSUN still led 67-66. With 17 seconds left, Willie Galick went to the line and made the first of two free throws. He missed the second, but grabbed the rebound. Eight seconds later, Daniels went 2-for-2 from the line to account for the final score.
UC Davis trailed 31-25 at the half. Prior to the Matadors 13-0 run, the Aggies used an 11-1 blitz to grab their 41-36 lead.
Both teams struggled from the field as CSUN finished at 39 percent compared to 36 percent for the Aggies. UC Davis shot 21-for-23 from the line. Payne was a big part of that success by going 9-for-10.
UC Davis closes out the regular season Saturday night at Cal State Fullerton.
