Northridge to Try to Slow Bakersfield in CCAA Contest

It was not supposed to be this way. Somehow the roles got reversed.

If the preseason predictions were to be believed, Cal State Northridge would be at or near the top of the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. basketball standings looking down at Cal State Bakersfield.

Not so--at least this early in the season. Bakersfield, which plays Northridge in the CSUN gym tonight, is 11-5, 3-0 in the CCAA.

CSUN, the preseason choice to win the conference title, is 9-5, 1-2.

Bakersfield, led by forward Fred Jones, a 6-7, 200-pound transfer from Yuba College, has won eight in a row. Jones scored 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting in an 83-78 victory over highly regarded Chapman last week. He is shooting 70.7%, including 83.3% (20 of 24) in conference play.

Troy Price, a 6-4 forward, is the Roadrunners’ top scorer. He is averaging 17.4 points and 5.8 rebounds.

Pat Bolden, a senior forward, leads a balanced Northridge attack with a 14.9 average. Center Todd Bowser is averaging 14.1 points a game and guard Chuck McGavran is averaging 13.7.

Ray Horwath, who will play despite a bruised knee, has done especially well for Northridge lately. He is averaging 9.9 points, 15.7 in conference play.