Huston Contained, Chapman Eliminated : Northridge Cages Panthers’ High-Scoring Guard to Win, 74-61

Kelly Huston sat in the Chapman locker room, shaking his lowered head from side to side.

Chapman had just been eliminated from playoff contention in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn., 74-61, by Cal State Northridge, and Huston, for all his impressive statistics, hadn’t been able to do much about it.

Alan Fraser was one of the reasons Huston was shaking his head.

It was Fraser, a transfer from Fullerton College, who drew the assignment of guarding Huston Thursday night at Northridge.

Normally, that would have been the job of Todd Bowser, the Matadors’ 6-foot 8-inch, 270-sophomore center. But Bowser, who was averaging 14.3 points and 7.8 rebounds, is out for the season with a strained arch, leaving the job to Fraser, a 6-6 junior.

Fraser scored only eight points, but he held Huston, who came in averaging 21.8 points, to 13.

“They were really prepared,” Huston said. “I have to give them credit.”

Huston had only two points in the first half, making 1 of 6 shots.

“It was frustrating,” he said. “When you play the post, you have no control. You’re not the one handling the ball.”

More often than not, the ball never got to the post. And when it did, Fraser wasn’t the only one hounding Huston.

“I had a lot of help,” Fraser said. “Our guards were raking him. I don’t think he got many good shots.”

Northridge had 14 steals--including 6 by point-guard Troy Dueker.

Ray Horwath, who was one of the Northridge players constantly helping out Fraser, gave some of the credit for his team’s performance on defense to Huston.

“Kelly is a fine player,” he said. “He works very hard and he makes you work when you guard him.”

Horwath and Pat Bolden picked up the offensive slack for Northridge in Bowser’s absence.

Bolden was 8 of 12 shooting and scored 22 points. Horwath made 7 of 11 shots and finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Horwath’s rebounding helped Northridge to a 40-27 edge in that department. It was only the fourth time in 26 games that Chapman (15-11 overall, 6-7 in conference) had been outrebounded.

Guard Bryan Richetto led the Panthers with seven rebounds. Huston, who led the CCAA coming into the game averaging 7.9, had a pair.

Russ Ortega led Chapman in scoring with 18 points. Dave Roth had 15, but was only 2 of 8 from three-point range.

Northridge (15-10, 7-6) moved into sole possession of fourth place in the CCAA. Four teams make the conference’s postseason tournament.