CSUN Chances Slip Away; Just 205 See Game

Cal State Northridge lost to West Texas State, 82-80, in a men’s nonconference basketball game before only 205 spectators at Northridge on Saturday night, but the loss can’t be blamed on a lack of effort or chances.

Trailing, 82-79, with 30 seconds left, the Matadors had four opportunities to send the game into overtime. They came up short each time.

After a Northridge timeout, Derrick Gathers missed a three-point attempt with 22 seconds left. He got the ball back in the ensuing scramble, only to miss again with 12 seconds remaining.

Teammate Jemarl Baker ran down Gathers’ errant shot, but his three-point attempt with eight seconds left hit the back of the rim and caromed out to the free-throw line, where Rod Toliver was fouled by the Matadors’ Kris Brodowski.

Toliver, however, missed the front end of a one-and-one situation with seven seconds left. Northridge guard Eugene Humphrey snatched the rebound, drove downcourt and was fouled on a three-point attempt with a second left.

After Humphrey’s first free throw narrowed the deficit to two, Northridge’s only chance was to miss the second and hope for a follow shot.

The Matadors (2-4) almost succeeded. Gathers, using Kendell McDaniels as a screen, tipped Humphrey’s miss, but it skimmed off the rim.

“I’m happy with a lot of the hustle we showed tonight,” Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy said. “But our young guys have got to start coming along a little bit faster than they are. We can’t continue to keep Derrick and Kendell and Kris out there that long. They need some rest.”

Trailing, 78-70, with 2 minutes, 20 seconds left, Northridge went on a 9-2 run to narrow the deficit to 80-79.

Gathers started the surge with two free throws and ended it with a three-point basket, and Humphrey drove the lane for two layups in between.

Toliver countered with a 10-foot jump shot in the lane for the Buffaloes (8-1), setting the stage for the final, frantic 30 seconds.

Gathers scored a game-high 28 points--19 in the second half--for Northridge, Humphrey had 14 and Brodowski and Baker each added 10.

Darnell Hardeman and Russ Winters each scored 14 for West Texas State.

The Buffaloes made 22 of 28 free throws (17 of 21 in the second half) in the foul-marred game; CSUN made 25 of 38, but only 12 of 23 after intermission.

The Matadors trailed, 41-38, at halftime after playing some of their best basketball of the season in the first 15 minutes and some of their worst in the next five.