Troy University Athletics
Troy University
3-2,0-0Sun Belt
Cal State Northridge
3-2,0-0Big West
Troy Drops High-Scoring Battle at CSUN
11/16/2025 10:42:00 PM | Basketball (M)
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Troy men's basketball was unable to overcome a 17-rebound deficit, falling to CSUN on Sunday night, 94-85.
Troy (3-2) received double-digit scoring nights from four Trojans but struggled mightily on the glass, allowing 15 offensive rebounds that turned into 20 CSUN points.
Cobi Campbell one-upped his performance from Friday night at LMU, dropping a new career-high 18 points. Campbell shot 62.5 percent (5-8) from the field and 66 percent (4-6) from three.
CSUN (3-2) shot 56.7 percent (38-67) overall, and dominated in the paint, scoring 60 of its 94 points from near the basket. Joshu O'Garro led the way with a double-double performance, scoring 23 while grabbing 11 rebounds.
The game began with both teams scoring the ball exceptionally well, as Troy led 14-12 just five minutes into the contest.
Thomas Dowd hit two three-pointers early and finished the first half with a game-high 12 points.
The Matadors took the lead at 18-16 and then went on an extended run over the next several minutes. Nine straight points capped off by a Jordan Brinson layup gave CSUN a 29-20 lead. The defensive woes continued for Troy, allowing baskets on the ensuing three possessions that grew the CSUN lead to as much as 14.
Troy had runs of their own, however, as Victor Valdes converted on a difficult shot to shrink the lead to six. Jerrell Bellamy then forced a steal, and a Javen Colbert fast break layup made it a four-point game.
CSUN led by just two points at halftime, with ten points and two assists from both Josiah Davis and Joshua O'Garro.
Troy took its first lead since the 13:47 mark of the first half early in the second, thanks to a Valdes three. Both teams traded blows throughout a back-and-forth stretch that featured seven ties and six lead changes.
A layup by Dowd put Troy ahead 68-66 midway through the period, but it would be the Trojans' final lead of the night. The Matadors answered with nine straight points - including four from Mahmoud Fofana - to go up seven.
Cooper Campbell scored five in a row to trim the deficit to one with just over three minutes to play, but a timely three from O'Garro and a layup by Davis allowed CSUN to pull away, ultimately winning 94-85.
Quotable – Head Coach Scott Cross
"We played good enough offensively to win the basketball game, but we got mauled on the boards. They shot 57 percent against us, and because of those two things, we came out with a loss. We're not going to win many games if we get outrebounded by 17, so we have to get tougher. Give them credit; they did a great job against us. They're very tough and tenacious, and they kicked our tail tonight."
Notables
- Troy's 85 points were its most in a regulation loss since a 96-93 defeat to South Alabama on March 7, 2015.
- The Trojans shot 19-22 from the free-throw line (86.4%). Troy has shot over 80 percent from the stripe in two straight games, including 80 percent (16-20) at LMU.
- Cobi Campbell set a new career-high with 18 points and tied his career-best with four assists.
- Victor Valdes set a career-high with eight assists
Up Next
Troy travels two hours south to San Diego for a matchup with San Diego State on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. CT on the Mountain West Network.
