LOS ANGELES -- Stephen Maxwell scored 26 points on 8-of-10 shooting to lead Cal State Northridge to an 89-77 win over UC Davis in their Big West Conference opener on Thursday night.

The hot-shooting Matadors (9-7, 1-0) opened the second half with a 14-4 run capped by a Maxwell layup and free throw to build their largest lead of the game, 53-35, but had to hold off a UC Davis rally in the closing minutes to preserve the win.

Josh Greene scored 22 points and Stephan Hicks had 17 for CS Northridge, which hit 31 of 50 from the field (62 percent) and was a near-perfect 22 of 23 from the foul line.

UC Davis (5-11, 0-1) closed to within five points on a layup by Corey Hawkins that made it 74-69 with 3:55 to go before the Matadors pulled away again.

Hawkins scored 25 points to lead five Aggies in double figures.