Cal State Northridge Beats UC Santa Barbara in OT Thriller

Josiah Davis' double-double leads Matadors to 85-83 victory over Gauchos

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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In a close game that went to overtime, the Cal State Northridge Matadors defeated the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos by a score of 85-83 on February 19, 2026. Josiah Davis led the way for the Matadors, scoring 31 points and recording a double-double.

Why it matters

This was an important Big West Conference matchup between two teams looking to improve their postseason positioning. The close, back-and-forth nature of the game showcases the competitive balance in the conference this season.

The details

Josiah Davis was the star of the game for Cal State Northridge, pouring in 31 points and grabbing double-digit rebounds to record a double-double. The game was tied at the end of regulation, forcing an overtime period where the Matadors were able to pull out the narrow 85-83 victory over their conference rivals.

  • The game was played on February 19, 2026.
  • The game went to overtime after being tied at the end of regulation.

The players

Josiah Davis

The star player for Cal State Northridge, scoring 31 points and recording a double-double in the victory.

Cal State Northridge Matadors

The home team that defeated their conference rivals UC Santa Barbara in an overtime thriller.

UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

The visiting team that fell just short against Cal State Northridge in the close overtime game.

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The takeaway

This game showcased the competitiveness of the Big West Conference this season, with two evenly matched teams battling it out in an overtime thriller. The performance of Josiah Davis was the difference-maker for Cal State Northridge, leading them to the narrow victory over their conference rivals.