After owning first place for six straight weeks, Long Beach State was supplanted by Cal State Northridge for the top spot as the Matadors extended their win streak to a season-high six.  The Matadors now assume the role of the hunted with Wednesday's nationally televised ESPNU game at UC Irvine the first opportunity to slay a chaser.
   
In addition to reeling off six straight victories, the Matadors have won 11 of their last 15 games to mitigate a 1-6 season start.  Defense has been the biggest key to CSUN's recent successes.  After yielding 91 points in a loss to Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 21, head coach Bobby Braswell narrowed the focus to defense as the key strategy to winning games.  The decision worked for Braswell, who collected his 200th career victory at CSUN with a 77-64 triumph against UC Riverside on Valentine's Day.  In the last six games, Matador opponents are averaging just 62.3 points.  Opponents averaged 75.0 points through the first six league games when CSUN started out 3-3.
   
CSUN attempts to remain unbeaten in televised conference games this season.  The Matadors have beaten UC Santa Barbara (ESPNU), Cal Poly (PRIME TICKET) and UC Riverside (PRIME TICKET) heading into the matchup with the Anteaters.
   
UC Irvine sits in seventh place in the Big West, a half-game ahead of UCSB and two games in front of CP.  The top eight teams qualify for the Big West Tournament March 11-14 at The Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center.  The Anteaters bring a three-game losing streak into this game, but have won the last three meetings against CSUN in the Bren Center.
   
Long Beach State has lost four of its last six games going into a showdown at rival Cal State Fullerton Wednesday.  The 49ers must play four of their final five league games on the road in an attempt to reclaim first place or at least stay in the top two in the standings.  The top two teams earn automatic byes to the semifinals in the Big West Tournament.
   
On the flip side, CSF has won five of its last seven games and aims to sweep LBSU for the second straight season.  The Titans won the first encounter, 61-60, on Jan. 29 in Long Beach.  Fullerton is in fourth place in a crowded Big West.  The Titans are just 2-4 in Big West home games as opposed to 5-2 in road matchups.
   
UC Davis travels to Cal Poly for the first of three straight Big West road games.  The Aggies are tied for fifth place with UC Riverside at 6-6.  The Highlanders are idle from Big West play this week.  Meanwhile, the Mustangs finish up the regular season with six straight home games, including four of the conference variety.         

Pacific head coach Bob Thomason became the all-time leader in Big West victories with No. 206 against UC Irvine last Saturday.  The Tigers look to win their third straight when they tackle UC Santa Barbara this week.  Pacific is tied for the league lead for most overall wins (14).  The Gauchos look to establish a season-best with a third straight win Wednesday.
   
Teams stray from Big West play for the annual ESPNU BracketBusters series on Saturday.  Long Beach State appears in the televised portion of the event, hosting Green Bay at 2:30 pm on ESPNU.  Remaining games include Fresno State at UC Davis, Montana State at UC Santa Barbara and South Dakota State at Cal Poly on the home side.  Big West road teams feature Pacific at San Diego, Cal State Fullerton at New Mexico State, UC Riverside at San Jose State, Cal State Northridge at Idaho and UC Irvine at Hawaii.