CSUN Wanders Into Playoffs : Despite 60-57 Loss to Dominguez Hills, Matadors Still Qualify

Basketball teams have backed into the playoffs before, but few have lurched in reverse as wickedly as Cal State Northridge did Saturday night only to end up in postseason play.

With its playoff aspirations on the line at home against Cal State Dominguez Hills, Northridge responded with perhaps its worst game of the season, losing 60-57.

Still, the Matadors made the four-team California Collegiate Athletic Assn. tournament field with a wholly mediocre 7-7 record in conference games.

Northridge finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the CCAA with Dominguez Hills and Chapman. But CSUN advances because it had a better record against the top three teams (2-4) than the other two teams.

Chapman defeated Cal State Los Angeles, 78-67, Saturday to force the logjam. Had only Northridge and Dominguez Hills tied for fourth, the Toros would have advanced because of their two wins over the Matadors.

That seemed of little consolation to at least one Northridge player, forward Ray Horwath, afterward.

“Seven and seven and in the playoffs. It’s like the NHL,” he mumbled on his way to the locker room.

Coach Pete Cassidy of Northridge was more diplomatic.

“We have to remember there were certain teams we had to beat along the way to make the tournament,” he said. “We did that.”

Two of those wins came against Cal State Bakersfield, which will host the conference tournament beginning Friday.

Bakersfield lost to Cal Poly Pomona, 71-70, Saturday but still won the CCAA regular-season championship when UC Riverside defeated Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 69-58.

Bakersfield and Riverside are actually co-champions, but the Roadrunners will play host because they defeated the Highlanders twice.

Northridge (15-11) shot 29.4% against Dominguez Hills, but at least the Matadors were consistent.

They shot 28.6% in the first half and 30.4% in the second half.

Northridge guards were a combined 2-of-17 shooting, including 2 of 9 from three-point range.

Pat Bolden led the Matadors in scoring for the fifth consecutive game. He had a season-high 27 points on 7-of-17 shooting.

Alan Fraser was the only other Northridge player to reach double figures in scoring. He had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Fraser also did an admirable job on center Anthony Blackmon of Dominguez Hills.

Blackmon, who came in averaging 16.9 points a game, had 11--seven on free throws.