Northridge, CA – Coming off of the largest win of their program’s historical past earlier this week at UCLA, Cal State Northridge stored it rolling by defeating the visiting Montana State Bobcats 82-70 on Friday afternoon. The Matadors had been led by De’Sean Allen-Eikens’ 23 factors and 6 boards whereas Montana State was helped by senior guard Robert Ford III and his 23 factors together with 4 made 3’s. Dionte Bostick had a pleasant recreation as properly with 18 factors of his personal and actually helped put the sport away for CSUN down the stretch. In a conflict of types Montana State, who fell to 5-6 on the season, was outdone by their very own energy on this recreation. The Bobcats are thirty sixth within the nation in 3-point makes an attempt at virtually 30 a recreation whereas CSUN is ranked 350th out of 362 faculties in makes an attempt from past the arc, however CSUN was the workforce that made extra 3’s on this contest.
The primary half was hotly contested and even acquired chippy at one level as the 2 groups needed to be separated by the officers after a shove to the bottom on a Montana State participant following an and-1 foul. The sport was extraordinarily shut all through the primary 20 minutes as no workforce held a lead higher than 4 factors and each groups continued to commerce baskets. Ford III had 11 first half factors for Montana State whereas Allen-Eikens scored 15 factors in quarter-hour for CSUN. The groups had been virtually inseparable as CSUN went into the half main by a single level, 38-37.
The start of the second half began out the identical as each groups continued to maintain it shut and change buckets for the primary jiffy. However that ended rapidly as CSUN began to string collectively a number of stops in a row on protection and didn’t let up the scoring. By the 9-minute mark the Matadors had been up by 11 factors as Montana State all of a sudden went chilly from 3 and couldn’t management the onslaught of offense that CSUN was in a position to keep. Regardless of solely connecting on 12-of-25 free throws (48%), the house workforce from Northridge was nonetheless in a position to draw back and choose up a 12 level victory. This was an aggressive contest that featured two technical fouls, 44 complete fouls, and 50 mixed free-throw makes an attempt between the 2 sides.
De’Sean Allen-Eikens is on his third workforce in his collegiate profession and has appeared to have discovered a house in Northridge. The previous North Dakota and New Orleans switch is having a standout yr averaging 20 factors and 6 rebounds whereas capturing over 40% from 3. The realm that actually stands out with Allen-Eikens is his energy across the basket. He finishes by contact at a really excessive degree and is making an attempt virtually seven free-throws a recreation. He has a extremely good all-around offensive package deal however particularly excels at slashing and driving to the ring. He’s a little bit of a tweener as a 6’6” frontcourt participant, however his 3-point shot has been a revelation this season after solely making round 30% his first 4 years. Allen-Eikens might be capable to carve out a job at a mid-tier degree abroad, significantly if he continues to point out off an improved perimeter recreation.
One of the vital distinctive gamers in faculty basketball that not many individuals have heard of must be Montana State senior guard Robert Ford III. Ford is listed at solely 6’0” however may be shorter than that watching him in particular person. Regardless of his measurement, Ford is averaging over eight rebounds a recreation and had 9 boards on this recreation. He flies into the paint after each shot try and has no worry in any respect crashing the glass regardless of who he’s going up towards. He rebounds like a 7-footer however by being solely 6’0” can deal with the ball, has a quickness benefit over a variety of gamers, and in addition shoots 43% from 3. He confirmed great poise and management in calming down his teammates throughout the tough moments of the sport and is only a full basic on the courtroom. I don’t know if he’ll wish to pursue knowledgeable profession abroad, but when he does I hope he makes it as a result of he’s a one among a form participant and really enjoyable to observe.
This was the ultimate out of convention recreation for each groups, and as convention season begins across the nation, Montana State begins off their Huge Sky journey by taking over Idaho State subsequent Thursday, December 28. The 9-3 CSUN Matadors had a wonderful exhibiting of their out of convention schedule however had been picked to complete tenth within the Huge West. They may look to shock some folks this season and show them incorrect as they tackle Cal Poly additionally on December twenty eighth.
This text was written by Omar Hillo, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You’ll be able to comply with us on Fb, or on twitter.
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