HENDERSON, Nev. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a stunning second-half reversal, the Cal State Northridge Matadors rode a career-high 34 points from Larry Hughes to overcome a double-digit deficit and defeat the UC San Diego Tritons 80-70 in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at the Dollar Loan Center.

The victory, which came in a neutral-site setting, improved Cal State Northridge to 20-13 on the season, while UC San Diego fell to 23-11. The result flipped the script on both the pregame projections, which heavily favored the Tritons, and the teams’ recent head-to-head history, which saw the Matadors win two prior meetings this season.

For nearly 25 minutes, the game followed the expected script. UC San Diego, methodical and efficient, built its lead through the sharp shooting of guard Tom Beattie. The junior from Auckland, New Zealand, scored 22 points, with 18 coming in a first-half barrage that included four three-pointers. His backcourt mate, Hudson Mayes of Los Angeles, added 17 points. The Tritons led 36-32 at halftime and extended their advantage to 49-38 with 15:22 remaining in the game after a Mayes three-pointer.

The most important part of the game, however, was the dramatic and sustained response from Cal State Northridge that followed. Over the next ten minutes, the Matadors unleashed a 30-9 run that completely transformed the contest. The surge was fueled by stifling defense that generated turnovers and ignited their transition game. Cal State Northridge finished with 14 fastbreak points to UC San Diego’s 5 and scored 12 points off turnovers compared to the Tritons’ 6.

At the heart of the onslaught was Hughes. The 6-foot-4 guard from St. Louis, who had been held to 8 points in his previous outing, was relentless. He scored 24 of his 34 points in the second half, attacking the rim, hitting pull-up jumpers, and connecting on timely three-pointers. His personal 7-0 run, capped by a three-pointer with 10:50 to play, gave the Matadors a 58-53 lead, their first since the opening minutes.

UC San Diego had no answer. Their offensive rhythm, so crisp in the first half, disintegrated against Northridge’s increased pressure. The Tritons went scoreless for over four minutes during the critical stretch, missing six consecutive shots and committing two turnovers as the Matadors seized control.

While Hughes provided the scoring punch, he was expertly supported by the backcourt duo of Josiah Davis and Joshua O’Garro. Davis, a guard from Kitchener, Canada, orchestrated the offense with 14 points and 9 assists, repeatedly finding Hughes and O’Garro in advantageous positions. O’Garro, from George Town, Cayman Islands, was a force on both ends, contributing 15 points, 4 assists, and 2 blocks, including several key defensive plays during the comeback.

UC San Diego’s interior presence, 7-foot center Dimitrije Vukicevic of Belgrade, Serbia, provided a brief spark off the bench with 9 points, but the Tritons were ultimately outscored 34-28 in the paint. Leo Beath of Malibu added 11 points for UC San Diego.

Cal State Northridge’s second-half offensive explosion was staggering. After shooting poorly in the first half to trail by four, the Matadors poured in 48 points after the break, nearly doubling their first-half output. The Tritons, meanwhile, managed only 34 second-half points.

The game’s final margin was solidified at the free-throw line, where Cal State Northridge closed the game efficiently in the final minutes. The total score of 150 points fell under the posted over/under line of 152.5.

The win represents a significant momentum shift for Cal State Northridge as the conference tournament approaches, demonstrating a resilience absent in their loss to Cal State Fullerton just days prior. For UC San Diego, a team that had won seven of its last eight games, the collapse serves as a stark reminder of the perils of a stagnant offense against an energized opponent. The Tritons’ once-commanding lead evaporated under the heat of Larry Hughes’ scoring and a collective defensive effort that turned the game on its head.