Preview: Cal State Northridge Matadors at UC Davis Aggies DAVIS, Calif. (Interstat) — A pivotal early-season Big West Conference men’s basketball clash tips off the new year Thursday as the Cal State Northridge Matadors visit the UC Davis Aggies at The Pavilion at ARC. Both teams enter conference play with winning records, looking to build momentum in January. The Matadors (8-6) aim to bounce back from an 88-80 road loss at Stanford on Dec. 27. The Aggies (7-5) ride high after a 108-52 rout of Pacific Union on Dec. 28. The matchup features two of the league’s standout guards. Cal State Northridge is led by dynamic scorer Larry Hughes, who poured in 26 points against Stanford and has scored 18 or more points in seven consecutive games. Over that stretch, Hughes is averaging 22.1 points per contest, establishing himself as one of the conference’s most potent offensive threats. UC Davis counters with Brayden Fagbemi, a versatile guard coming off a near triple-double performance. Against Pacific Union, Fagbemi posted 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists in just 22 minutes. His playmaking and activity will be central to the Aggies’ attack. The Matadors have shown a high-powered offense, scoring 88 or more points in four of their last five wins. However, consistency has been an issue, with road losses to Stanford and UC Irvine by double digits. Joshua O’Garro and Josiah Davis provide key support for Hughes. UC Davis has defended its home court well, posting a 5-1 record at The Pavilion this season. Their losses have come primarily on the road against power conference opponents like Oregon and Colorado. The Aggies will rely on their home-court advantage and balanced scoring, which against Pacific Union included 19 points from Nils Cooper and a 13-rebound effort from Omer Suljanovic. This game opens the conference slate for both teams and sets an immediate tone in the Big West standings. The teams will meet again in Northridge on Jan. 29. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.