NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Long Beach State dropped an 85-75 decision at CSUN on Saturday afternoon, as the Matadors controlled much of the first three quarters before the Beach mounted a late surge.
CSUN set the tone early with efficient perimeter shooting and active hands defensively. The Matadors knocked down four three-pointers in the opening quarter and turned turnovers into transition opportunities, building a 27-19 lead after one. Long Beach found success attacking the paint but had difficulty stringing together stops.
The second quarter created separation. The Beach hit a scoring lull and struggled to find consistency from beyond the arc, while CSUN continued to convert inside and capitalize on extra possessions. By halftime, the Matadors led 43-30, having taken advantage of their offensive efficiency and defensive pressure.
Out of the break, CSUN extended the margin to as many as 25 midway through the third quarter. Timely interior finishes helped the Matadors carry a 65-45 advantage into the final period.
The Beach responded with their strongest stretch of the afternoon in the fourth quarter. Long Beach scored 30 points in the final 10 minutes, attacking downhill and getting to the free throw line.
Khylee Pepe led the way with 24 points, taking control offensively and consistently getting into the lane. JaQuoia Jones-Brown added 17 points and was a perfect 13 for 13 at the stripe in the closing minutes, helping trim the deficit to single digits late. Kennan Ka contributed 14, providing steady production throughout.
Despite the late push, CSUN’s efficiency over the first three quarters proved decisive.
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