Northridge left the Big Sky to join the Big West Conference in 2001. CSUN reached the Big West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament finals in 2003–04 after shocking 23rd-ranked Utah State in the semi-finals. Led by Ian Boylan, who holds CSUN records for three-pointers and steals, they finished 18–13 in 2004–05. In 2008, they tied for first place in the Big West Conference. In 2009, the Matadors were selected as the pre-season favorite to win the Big West. On March 14, 2009 the Matadors beat University of Pacific in the Big West Tournament Championship game at the Anaheim Convention Center to make it to the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament for the second time in the school's history.