LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A dominant second-half surge fueled by Joshua O’Garro and Mahmoud Fofana propelled Cal State Northridge to a decisive 94-78 victory over UC Davis in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at the Matadome.

The Matadors, improving to 12-10 overall, trailed by four at halftime but erupted for 50 points after the break, overwhelming the Aggies with superior efficiency and a relentless attack in the paint. UC Davis, which led 48-44 at intermission, fell to 12-9.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded early in the second half, transforming a tight contest into a commanding Cal State Northridge lead. After UC Davis guard Connor Sevilla hit a free throw to tie the game at 52 with just over 17 minutes remaining, the Matadors unleashed a game-defining 13-2 run over the next four minutes. The spurt was emblematic of the entire half, featuring easy baskets inside and forced UC Davis turnovers.

O’Garro, the dynamic guard from George Town, Cayman Islands, ignited the run with a steal and assist on a Fofana layup. After a UC Davis turnover, O’Garro found Grady Lewis for another layup. Following another Aggies miscue, Larry Hughes converted a driving layup and the ensuing free throw. The run was capped by a Joshua O’Garro turnaround jumper, pushing the Matadors’ lead to 65-54 with 12:26 to play. UC Davis never recovered, as the margin ballooned to as many as 18 points.

The statistical disparity told the story of Cal State Northridge’s interior dominance. The Matadors outscored UC Davis 52-26 in the paint and held a 26-14 advantage in fastbreak points. They shot 52.9 percent from the field for the game, compared to 41.3 percent for the Aggies. Despite attempting fewer free throws, Cal State Northridge’s ability to generate high-percentage shots proved decisive.

O’Garro finished as the game’s top performer, stuffing the stat sheet with 21 points, eight assists and a steal in 33 minutes. His backcourt partner, Josiah Davis of Kitchener, Canada, orchestrated the offense with a remarkable 15 assists. Fofana, a force from San Jose, California, added 22 points on efficient 9-of-12 shooting from the field.

UC Davis was led by Marcus Wilson’s 13 points and eight assists, while Connor Sevilla added 15 points. The Aggies’ offense, which looked sharp in building a first-half lead, stagnated after halftime, managing only 30 points on 10-of-31 shooting. Their offensive rating of 94.1 paled in comparison to the Matadors’ mark of 114.7.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring 10 lead changes. UC Davis built its largest lead at 30-22 midway through the period, fueled by early three-point shooting. Cal State Northridge chipped away, with James Evans hitting a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer to cut the deficit to four and provide a hint of the momentum to come.

The victory avenged an 89-80 home loss to UC Davis just four weeks prior and moved Cal State Northridge above .500 in conference play. The Aggies, who had won three of their last four, saw a two-game win streak snapped.

Cal State Northridge was a pregame favorite by one point, and the combined score of 172 fell under the betting total of 164.5. An announced crowd of 625 at the Matadome saw the Matadors control the tempo after halftime, turning a projected 63.3 percent win probability into a convincing reality.

UC Davis travels to face Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday, while Cal State Northridge hosts UC San Diego the same day as both teams continue Big West play.