Cal State Northridge Edges Long Beach State in Close Contest
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid
Cal State Northridge Matadors 78, Long Beach State Beach 76, 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 Long Beach State Beach?
Cal State Northridge Matadors beat Long Beach State Beach 78-76 at LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid on February 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Cal State Northridge Matadors vs Long Beach State Beach?
Cal State Northridge Matadors were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -155 (about 61% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested game, the Cal State Northridge Matadors narrowly defeated the Long Beach State Beach with a final score of 78 to 76. This match, held at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid, showcased a dramatic back-and-forth battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer. The victory for the Matadors extends their current winning streak to six games, while the Beach continues to struggle, marking their eighth consecutive loss.
Cal State Northridge entered the game with a strong away record of 18-10, bolstered by their recent form of 7-3 over the last ten games. They have averaged 84.0 points scored per game during this stretch, while allowing 79.6 points. In contrast, Long Beach State's recent performance has been disappointing, with a record of 2-8 in their last ten games and an average of 71.8 points scored against 76.1 points allowed. Their overall record stands at 8-20, highlighting their struggles throughout the season.
The home team, Long Beach State, had been looking to turn their fortunes around after a series of defeats, including a loss to UC Irvine just two days prior, where they fell 58-69. Their last five games have seen them average 70.0 points scored while allowing 78.4 points, with their last victory dating back to January 18 against Cal State Northridge, where they won 87-80. In contrast, the Matadors have been on a roll, winning their latest game against UC Santa Barbara 85-83, showcasing their offensive prowess.
Historically, the matchup has been competitive, with the Matadors holding a 2-1 advantage in their last three meetings. The previous encounter this season ended in a Long Beach State victory, but the Matadors have since turned the tide, demonstrating their improved form. The injury picture for both teams was not detailed in the provided facts, but it is often a crucial aspect of such matchups, impacting team performance.
The betting lines provided by DraftKings indicated Cal State Northridge as a 2.5-point favorite, with a total set at 157.5. The odds for the Matadors to win straight up were -155, while Long Beach State had a moneyline of +130. These figures reflect the market's confidence in the Matadors' ability to secure a win, particularly given their current form.
Throughout the game, viewers witnessed a series of exciting scoring plays, including a driving layup by Leopold Levillain and a critical 26-foot three-pointer from Shaquil Bender that helped maintain the Matadors' lead. The back-and-forth nature of the scoring kept the game competitive, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times in the second half.
As the game progressed, the Matadors managed to pull ahead late in the second half, but Long Beach State fought valiantly to close the gap. Despite their efforts, they were unable to overcome the deficit, resulting in another tough loss for the Beach. This game serves as a testament to the resilience of Cal State Northridge, who have found their rhythm at a crucial point in the season, while Long Beach State continues to seek answers as they navigate through a challenging campaign.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | CSUN -2.5 | 157.5 o -105 / u -115 | Cal State Northridge Matadors -155 · Long Beach State Beach +130 |
Leaders
- PointsShaquil Bender27Long Beach State Beach
- AssistsPetar Majstorovic4Long Beach State Beach
- ReboundsLeopold Levillain7Long Beach State Beach
- PointsJosiah Davis21Cal State Northridge Matadors
- AssistsJosiah Davis9Cal State Northridge Matadors
- ReboundsMahmoud Fofana9Cal State Northridge Matadors
Recent form
Long Beach State Beach
Last 10: 2-8Streak L871.8 scored · 76.1 allowed per game1-4 at home
- L58-69vs UC Irvine AnteatersFeb 20
- L54-71at UC Davis AggiesFeb 14
- L82-86vs Cal State Fullerton TitansFeb 13
- L74-77at UC San Diego TritonsFeb 6
- L82-89vs Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsJan 31
- L61-71at UC Riverside HighlandersJan 30
- L71-74vs UC Santa Barbara GauchosJan 25
- L61-71at Cal State Fullerton TitansJan 23
- W87-80at Cal State Northridge MatadorsJan 18
- W88-73vs UC Riverside HighlandersJan 16
Cal State Northridge Matadors
Last 10: 7-3Streak W684 scored · 79.6 allowed per game3-2 away
- W85-83at UC Santa Barbara GauchosFeb 20
- W84-60vs Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsFeb 15
- W88-74vs UC Riverside HighlandersFeb 7
- W97-96at Cal Poly MustangsFeb 6
- 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
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 | Long Beach State Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 33-69 | 25-58 |
| Field goal % | 48 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 3-10 | 12-26 |
| Three-point % | 30 | 46 |
| Free throws | 9-18 | 14-19 |
| Free throw % | 50 | 74 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 33 |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 24 |
| Assists | 16 | 17 |
| Steals | 7 | 3 |
| Blocks | 0 | 7 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 18 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 3 |
| Points in the paint | 60 | 18 |
| Fouls | 19 | 22 |
| Largest lead | 17 | 2 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 91 | 7 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half46-38Shaquil Bender makes 27-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half48-38Josiah Davis makes 9-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half50-38James Evans Jr. makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half50-40Shaquil Bender makes 18-foot pullup jump shot (Petar Majstorovic assists)
- 2nd Half52-40Mahmoud Fofana makes layup
- 2nd Half54-40Grady Lewis makes 2-foot dunk (Jordan Brinson assists)
- 2nd Half54-41Gavin Sykes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-41Jordan Brinson makes 5-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half56-43Rob Diaz III makes 10-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half58-43Josiah Davis makes layup
- 2nd Half60-43Josiah Davis makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half60-46Isaiah Lewis makes 22-foot three point jumper (Gavin Sykes assists)
- 2nd Half60-48Gavin Sykes makes 10-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half60-51Shaquil Bender makes 26-foot three pointer (Gavin Sykes assists)
- 2nd Half60-52Gavin Sykes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-53Gavin Sykes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-53Joshua O'Garro makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-54Gavin Sykes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-54Josiah Davis makes driving layup
- 2nd Half65-54Josiah Davis makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half66-54Josiah Davis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-54Josiah Davis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-54Joshua O'Garro makes layup (Josiah Davis assists)
- 2nd Half70-54Josiah Davis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-54Josiah Davis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-56Isaiah Lewis makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-57Gavin Sykes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-58Gavin Sykes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-58Joshua O'Garro makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-60Rob Diaz III makes layup (Petar Majstorovic assists)
- 2nd Half72-62Rob Diaz III makes layup (Petar Majstorovic assists)
- 2nd Half73-62Larry Hughes II makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-64Leopold Levillain makes driving layup
- 2nd Half73-67Shaquil Bender makes 23-foot three point jumper (Gavin Sykes assists)
- 2nd Half75-67Mahmoud Fofana makes layup (Josiah Davis assists)
- 2nd Half75-69Shaquil Bender makes 14-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half75-72Shaquil Bender makes 26-foot three pointer (Dallas Washington assists)
- 2nd Half78-72Jordan Brinson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Josiah Davis assists)
- 2nd Half78-73Dallas Washington makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-76Shaquil Bender makes 26-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Lewis assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Long Beach State Beach, below favours Cal State Northridge Matadors.
Venue
- LBS Financial Credit Union PyramidLong Beach, CA
- Attendance1551
- OfficialsJeff Campbell, Glen Mayberry, Courtney Holmes
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Picks for NCAAB
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These two, other days
- Long Beach State Tops Cal State Northridge 87-80Jan 17, 2026