Cal State Northridge Edges Cal Poly in Thrilling Finish
Thursday, February 5, 2026, 10:00 PM ET · Mott Athletics Center
Cal State Northridge Matadors 97, Cal Poly Mustangs 96, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Cal State Northridge Matadors vs Cal Poly Mustangs?
Cal State Northridge Matadors beat Cal Poly Mustangs 97-96 at Mott Athletics Center on February 5, 2026.
Who was favored in Cal State Northridge Matadors vs Cal Poly Mustangs?
Cal State Northridge Matadors were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -135 (about 57% implied). The favorite won.
In a nail-biting contest, the Cal State Northridge Matadors narrowly defeated the Cal Poly Mustangs 97-96 at the Mott Athletics Center. This matchup showcased the competitive spirit of both teams, with the Matadors managing to secure their victory despite a valiant effort from the Mustangs. The game was marked by an intense second half, where both teams exchanged leads multiple times, culminating in a dramatic finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The Mustangs entered the game with a home record of 9-15 and had shown a mixed form recently, recording a 4-6 record in their last ten games. They had a two-game winning streak, having recently triumphed over UC Riverside and Cal State Bakersfield, scoring an average of 79.6 points while allowing 84.7 points per game during this stretch. However, their defensive struggles were evident, as they averaged 90.4 points allowed in their last five games. At home, they had a record of 2-3 in their last five games, averaging 81.8 points scored.
On the other hand, the Matadors boasted a better overall record of 14-10 and were 5-5 in their last ten games, also riding a two-game winning streak. Their offensive output was consistent, averaging 81.5 points scored and 81.5 points allowed during this period. Cal State Northridge had a strong home record of 4-1 in their last five games, but struggled on the road with a 1-4 record. This game marked their fourth consecutive victory over Cal Poly, as they had won all previous meetings this season and last, including a close 95-90 win earlier in January.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any players missing from either team, indicating that both squads were likely at full strength for this crucial matchup. The betting market reflected a close contest, with DraftKings listing Cal State Northridge as 2.5-point favorites, suggesting a competitive game was anticipated. The total points line was set at 177.5, indicating expectations of a high-scoring affair.
The conditions at the Mott Athletics Center were conducive to an exciting game, with both teams displaying their offensive capabilities. Fans were treated to a showcase of skill, as the game featured several scoring plays that highlighted the talent on both rosters. The final moments were particularly thrilling, with Cal State Northridge pulling ahead late in the game. Key plays included a critical layup by Joshua O'Garro that sealed the victory for the Matadors.
As the game concluded, the Mustangs were left searching for answers after another close loss to a familiar foe. With this defeat, they fell to a 0-3 record against the Matadors in their recent meetings, raising questions about their ability to overcome this rival in future matchups. Meanwhile, the Matadors celebrated a hard-fought victory, further solidifying their standing in the league.
Overall, this fixture was a testament to the competitiveness of NCAAB basketball, showcasing the intensity and skill that fans have come to expect from these two programs.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | CSUN -2.5 | 177.5 o -115 / u -105 | Cal State Northridge Matadors -135 · Cal Poly Mustangs +114 |
Leaders
- PointsHamad Mousa33Cal Poly Mustangs
- AssistsPeter Bandelj5Cal Poly Mustangs
- ReboundsPeter Bandelj7Cal Poly Mustangs
- PointsLarry Hughes II32Cal State Northridge Matadors
- AssistsJosiah Davis12Cal State Northridge Matadors
- ReboundsJoshua O'Garro12Cal State Northridge Matadors
Recent form
Cal Poly Mustangs
Last 10: 4-6Streak W279.6 scored · 84.7 allowed per game2-3 at home
- W94-87at UC Riverside HighlandersFeb 1
- W104-79at Cal State Bakersfield RoadrunnersJan 30
- L78-93vs Cal State Fullerton TitansJan 25
- L67-107at UC Santa Barbara GauchosJan 23
- L66-86vs Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsJan 16
- W84-78vs UC Davis AggiesJan 10
- L90-95at Cal State Northridge MatadorsJan 9
- L66-74at Long Beach State BeachJan 4
- W67-65vs UC San Diego TritonsJan 2
- L80-83vs Idaho VandalsDec 22
Cal State Northridge Matadors
Last 10: 5-5Streak W281.5 scored · 81.5 allowed per game1-4 away
- W81-64vs UC San Diego TritonsFeb 1
- W94-78vs UC Davis AggiesJan 30
- L68-89at Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsJan 25
- L80-87vs Long Beach State BeachJan 18
- W84-79at UC San Diego TritonsJan 16
- L79-86at Cal State Fullerton TitansJan 11
- W95-90vs Cal Poly MustangsJan 9
- W74-65vs UC Santa Barbara GauchosJan 3
- L80-89at UC Davis AggiesJan 1
- L80-88at Stanford CardinalDec 28
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 23-12 | - | 15-5 |
| Hawai'i | 24-9 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UC San Diego | 23-11 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Northridge | 20-14 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 18-16 | 3 | 12-8 |
| UC Davis | 19-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 18-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Cal Poly | 14-19 | 5 | 10-10 |
| Long Beach State | 10-22 | 9 | 6-14 |
| UC Riverside | 10-22 | 10 | 5-15 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 8-24 | 13 | 2-18 |
Box score
| Stat | Cal State Northridge Matadors | Cal Poly Mustangs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 38-72 | 33-63 |
| Field goal % | 53 | 52 |
| Three-pointers | 14-27 | 17-42 |
| Three-point % | 52 | 40 |
| Free throws | 7-10 | 13-14 |
| Free throw % | 70 | 93 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 32 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 5 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 27 |
| Assists | 24 | 19 |
| Steals | 9 | 10 |
| Blocks | 0 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 15 | 16 |
| Fast-break points | 12 | 25 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 32 |
| Fouls | 15 | 15 |
| Largest lead | 16 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 6 | 6 |
| Time in front | 81 | 18 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half66-55Jake Davis makes layup (Guzman Vasilic assists)
- 2nd Half68-55Mahmoud Fofana makes layup
- 2nd Half68-57Peter Bandelj makes layup
- 2nd Half70-57Larry Hughes II makes 18-foot jumper
- 2nd Half72-57Jai Chisolm makes driving layup
- 2nd Half72-58Hamad Mousa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-59Hamad Mousa makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-59Davius Loury makes 23-foot three point jumper (Josiah Davis assists)
- 2nd Half75-62Hamad Mousa makes 28-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half77-62Mahmoud Fofana makes layup (Josiah Davis assists)
- 2nd Half77-64Jackson Mosley makes layup
- 2nd Half77-67Guzman Vasilic makes 23-foot three point jumper (Austin Goode assists)
- 2nd Half80-67Larry Hughes II makes 23-foot three point jumper (Josiah Davis assists)
- 2nd Half82-67Josiah Davis makes layup
- 2nd Half82-70Hamad Mousa makes 23-foot three point jumper (Cayden Ward assists)
- 2nd Half82-73Jackson Mosley makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jake Davis assists)
- 2nd Half84-73Mahmoud Fofana makes layup (Jordan Brinson assists)
- 2nd Half85-73Mahmoud Fofana makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half85-75Hamad Mousa makes driving layup
- 2nd Half87-75Jordan Brinson makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half87-76Peter Bandelj makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half87-77Peter Bandelj makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half87-79Austin Goode makes 4-foot dunk (Peter Bandelj assists)
- 2nd Half89-79Josiah Davis makes layup
- 2nd Half89-80Hamad Mousa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half89-81Hamad Mousa makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half90-81Mahmoud Fofana makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half91-81Mahmoud Fofana makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half91-84Cayden Ward makes 26-foot three point jumper (Guzman Vasilic assists)
- 2nd Half91-86Peter Bandelj makes driving layup
- 2nd Half91-88Guzman Vasilic makes layup (Peter Bandelj assists)
- 2nd Half92-88Larry Hughes II makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half93-88Larry Hughes II makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half93-90Peter Bandelj makes layup (Guzman Vasilic assists)
- 2nd Half95-90Josiah Davis makes layup
- 2nd Half95-92Austin Goode makes 3-foot dunk (Peter Bandelj assists)
- 2nd Half95-94Peter Bandelj makes layup
- 2nd Half95-95Peter Bandelj makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half95-96Peter Bandelj makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half97-96Joshua O'Garro makes 6-foot jumper (Josiah Davis assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Cal Poly Mustangs, below favours Cal State Northridge Matadors.
Venue
- Mott Athletics CenterSan Luis Obispo, CA
- Attendance1729
- OfficialsMike Reed, James Ford, Tommy Johnson
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