Preview: Long Beach State at Cal State Northridge

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A surging Cal State Northridge squad will look to solidify its position in the Big West Conference standings when it hosts a Long Beach State team seeking consistency on Saturday at Matadome.

The Matadors (11-8 overall) enter the contest with momentum, having won four of their last five games, including an 84-79 road victory at UC San Diego on Thursday. They are led by dynamic guard Josiah Davis, who is coming off a 23-point, 7-assist performance. Over his last seven games, Davis has averaged 18.1 points and 7.0 assists, highlighted by a 23-point, 15-assist outing in a win over Cal Poly on Jan. 8.

The visiting 49ers (7-11) have shown flashes, winning three of their last four, most recently an 88-73 home win over UC Riverside. Their success is heavily tied to the scoring of guard Petar Majstorovic, who has averaged 20.3 points over his last four contests, including 22 points in Thursday’s win. However, Long Beach State’s season has been marked by streaks, struggling to string together consecutive victories against Division I opponents.

This matchup pits Northridge’s more balanced record and home-court advantage against a Long Beach State team reliant on a high-scoring guard. The Matadors have been strong at home this season, with notable non-conference wins over Fresno State and Sacramento State at Matadome.

The game will be the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 21 at Long Beach.

Saturday’s winner will gain an early edge in the conference race as both teams navigate the heart of their Big West schedules. Northridge aims to continue its climb, while Long Beach State hopes Majstorovic’s hot hand can help them pull off a road upset and reach .500 in conference play.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. PST.