LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Larry Hughes scored 23 points and Mahmoud Fofana posted a double-double as Cal State Northridge pulled away in the second half to defeat UC Santa Barbara 74-65 in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Matadome.

The Matadors, who led 34-26 at halftime, improved to 9-7 overall. The Gauchos fell to 9-6.

Hughes, a guard from St. Louis, Missouri, was efficient from the floor, making 8 of 14 shots, including two 3-pointers, and went 5 for 6 from the free-throw line. He added two rebounds, two assists and a steal in 34 minutes. Fofana, a forward from San Jose, California, anchored the interior with 14 points and 11 rebounds for his double-double, along with three assists and a block.

The game’s pivotal stretch came early in the second half. After UC Santa Barbara’s Hosana Kitenge opened the period with a three-point play to cut the deficit to 34-29, Cal State Northridge responded with an 8-0 run. Hughes hit a jumper, then converted a free throw after being fouled on a made turnaround jumper. He followed with a steal and a layup, and Davius Loury capped the surge with a layup off an assist from Jai Chisolm, pushing the Matadors’ lead to 42-29 with 15:01 remaining.

UC Santa Barbara never recovered from that deficit, unable to mount a sustained run against the Matadors’ defense. The Gauchos struggled offensively all afternoon, shooting just 34.4% from the field and 20% from 3-point range. Their 65 points came on 74 possessions, an offensive rating of 87.2.

Cal State Northridge was not much more accurate from deep, making only 3 of 18 attempts, but dominated inside, outscoring UCSB 36-30 in the paint and capitalizing on frequent trips to the foul line. The Matadors attempted 37 free throws, making 23, compared to UCSB’s 20 attempts, of which they made 17.

CJ Shaw led UC Santa Barbara with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Marvin McGhee added 10 points and six rebounds, while Koat Keat Tong contributed seven points and six rebounds off the bench.

Beyond Hughes and Fofana, Cal State Northridge received balanced contributions. Joshua O’Garro of George Town, Cayman Islands, scored 11 points with six rebounds and three assists. Josiah Davis from Kitchener, Canada, had 12 points, four assists and three rebounds, though he committed seven turnovers.

The first half was defined by poor shooting and Cal State Northridge’s ability to create separation. After a slow start from both teams, the Matadors used a 7-0 run, highlighted by a Hughes 3-pointer and a Joshua O’Garro dunk, to take a 12-4 lead. They maintained a cushion throughout the half, leading by as many as 11 points before settling for the eight-point halftime advantage.

UC Santa Barbara’s offensive woes were comprehensive. They managed only seven assists against 13 turnovers and were outscored 16-10 off those giveaways. The Gauchos also lost the fastbreak battle 14-12.

Cal State Northridge’s victory snapped a two-game losing streak that included losses at UC Davis and Stanford. UC Santa Barbara has now lost two straight conference games after falling at Cal State Fullerton on Thursday.

The game’s total of 139 points fell well under the over/under line of 159.5. Cal State Northridge, which had been projected with a 65.6% probability to win by Interstat’s ELO system, covered the spread after being installed as a 1.5-point underdog.

Attendance at the Matadome was 689.

UP NEXT: UC Santa Barbara: Hosts UC Davis on Thursday. Cal State Northridge: Hosts Cal Poly on Thursday.