LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — In a game defined by its final, frantic seconds, Josiah Davis hit a contested 3-pointer with two seconds remaining to lift Cal State Northridge to an 89-87 victory over Fresno State in a nonconference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the Matadome.

The Matadors, who led for nearly the entire second half, saw their advantage evaporate in the final minute before Davis’ game-winner from the right wing off an assist from Joshua O’Garro. The Bulldogs’ last-ditch attempt, a heavily contested three from Zaon Collins, was blocked by Davis as time expired, sealing the win for the home team before a crowd of 756.

The contest was a stark contrast in halves. Cal State Northridge used a 13-2 run late in the first period to build a 47-37 halftime lead, capitalizing on a stretch of Fresno State turnovers and cold shooting. The Bulldogs, however, stormed back in the second half, shooting 60% from the field and erasing what was once a 12-point deficit.

The most critical sequence began with 26 seconds left and the Matadors clinging to an 86-84 lead. Fresno State’s Jake Heidbreder stole the ball from O’Garro near midcourt and converted a driving layup to tie the game with 22 seconds on the clock. After a Cal State Northridge timeout, Larry Hughes was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play. He missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving Fresno State a chance to take the lead.

Collins was fouled on the rebound and went to the line with nine seconds left with a chance to put the Bulldogs ahead. He missed the first free throw, however, and O’Garro secured the rebound for the Matadors, setting the stage for the final play. After a foul and a timeout to advance the ball, O’Garro found Davis curling off a screen for the decisive shot.

The game featured remarkably efficient offense from both sides. Cal State Northridge scored 89 points on 72 possessions for an offensive rating of 124.2, while Fresno State posted 87 points on 73 possessions for a 119.8 rating. Both teams shot exactly 33 of 60 from the floor. The difference came from beyond the arc, where the Matadors made 10 of 25 attempts compared to the Bulldogs’ 13 of 29, and at the free-throw line, where Cal State Northridge was a near-perfect 13 of 14.

Larry Hughes led all scorers with 25 points for the Matadors, including several key baskets to stem Fresno State rallies in the second half. Joshua O’Garro added 23 points, four assists and a block, while Davis finished with 11 points and a game-high eight assists to go with the critical block at the buzzer.

Fresno State was paced by Zaon Collins’ 24 points and three assists. DeShawn Gory added 19 points, and Jake Heidbreder contributed 15 points, playing all 40 minutes. The Bulldogs’ 7-foot center Wilson Jacques had 10 points and nine rebounds.

With the win, Cal State Northridge evens its season record at 5-5. The Matadors, who were installed as a 2-point pregame favorite, overcame a Interstat ELO projection that gave them a 77.6% chance to win, though the total score of 176 points sailed over the over/under line of 153.5.

Fresno State falls to 6-5 with the narrow loss, its second defeat in the last three games. The Bulldogs will look to rebound when they travel to face UNLV on Dec. 20. Cal State Northridge continues a busy stretch with a trip to Delaware on Saturday.