NEWARK, Del. (Interstat) — Larry Hughes scored 23 points and Cal State Northridge used a dominant first half to cruise past Delaware 88-66 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Bob Carpenter Center.

The Matadors (6-5) seized control early, building a 20-point halftime lead and never letting the Blue Hens (3-7) mount a serious challenge. Cal State Northridge shot 50.8% from the field and 47.8% from 3-point range, while its defense forced 14 turnovers and held Delaware to 39.6% shooting.

The most important stretch of the game came in the opening 20 minutes, where Cal State Northridge established its superiority on both ends. After Delaware’s Christian Bliss opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, the Matadors responded with a 13-2 run, fueled by transition opportunities and stifling defense. The sequence set the tone, as Northridge consistently turned Delaware miscues into points, finishing the half with a 17-4 advantage in points off turnovers.

Hughes, a 6-foot-4 guard from St. Louis, led all scorers and added seven rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes. He was supported by a balanced attack as four other Matadors reached double figures. Joshua O’Garro had 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Davius Loury and Mahmoud Fofana each added 12 points, with Loury contributing six rebounds and three assists.

Delaware, which entered the game as a 2.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, struggled to find consistent offense outside of Bliss and Justyn Fernandez. Bliss finished with 21 points, five rebounds and five assists. Fernandez added 17 points. The Blue Hens were outscored 36-18 in the paint and managed only four fast-break points to Northridge’s 13.

Cal State Northridge’s offensive efficiency was stark, scoring 88 points on 71 possessions for a rating of 124.6. Delaware managed just 66 points on 68 possessions, an offensive rating of 97.7. The Matadors also shared the ball effectively, recording 11 assists to Delaware’s six, and were more disruptive defensively with 11 steals.

The Matadors led 48-28 at halftime after shooting 51.5% from the field and holding the Blue Hens to 34.5% shooting. Delaware showed more life after the break, outscoring Northridge 38-40 in the second half, but never cut the deficit below 14 points.

For Cal State Northridge, the win marked its second straight and third in four games. Delaware lost for the fifth time in its last six outings.

Cal State Northridge returns home to face La Sierra on Dec. 19. Delaware hosts Rider on Dec. 16.

An announced crowd of 1,517 attended the game.