STOCKTON, Calif. – Redshirt junior Burke Smith soared with a career-high 17 points, but the Pacific men's basketball team (4-4) fell short to CSUN (5-2), 80-69, Wednesday at Alex G. Spanos Center.
 
The Tigers drop to 3-3 at home and 4-4 overall on the year. The Matadors improve to 3-1 on the road and 5-2 overall.
 
Smith found his groove off the bench, leading the Tigers offensively with 17 points in 32 minutes and shooting 75 percent (3-4) from beyond the arc. Junior Cam Denson fought through foul trouble all night, but ultimately secured 15 points and six rebounds. Senior Donovan Williams tallied 12 points with nine of those points coming from the free throw line.
 
The Tigers and Matadors got off to a slow start as both teams shot under 40 percent in the first half. Neither team lead by more than six points through 20 minutes. Sophomore Moe Odum scored all five of his points in the first half, including a long three to give the Tigers a 36-35 lead at halftime.
 
The second half saw the foul trouble kick in. While CSUN gave Pacific opportunities at the charity stripe to take command of the game, the Tigers struggled from the line, hitting 51.4 percent (19-37). Back and forth the two teams went until midway through the second half as the Matadors broke out to an 11-point lead.
 
The Tigers responded with an 8-0 run to creep within two possessions, giving the home team life late. While the second half wound down and the Tigers made a push, it was the Matadors who capitalized at the line, ultimately holding on for the 80-69 victory.
 
Pacific's bench played a pivotal role throughout the contest, outscoring the Matadors 29-8 in that area.
 
The Tigers look to turn the page into December as the team travels to face Northern Arizona at 1 p.m. PST/ 2 p.m. MST. on Saturday, Dec. 2.