Northridge Wins Game, Not Berth in Tournament

It seemed next to impossible at the start, yet the Cal State Northridge basketball team came oh, so close Saturday to qualifying for the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. tournament.

Needing a win over Cal State Bakersfield and losses from Cal State Los Angeles and UC Riverside, the Matadors kept their end of the bargain with a come-from-behind 96-88 overtime victory over the CCAA champion Roadrunners.

San Luis Obispo also helped, beating Cal State L. A., 86-68. But when Riverside beat Dominguez Hills, 68-62, the Matadors’ season was over.

Although Northridge (12-15) and Cal State L. A. tied for fourth in the CCAA standings with 7-7 records, the Golden Eagles advanced to the tournament on the basis of their 2-0 record against the Matadors.

Kris Brodowski (18 points) hit eight of nine free throws and freshman Bill Mazurie (14) was four for four in overtime as Northridge beat the Roadrunners for the second time this season.

Leading, 86-83, with 47 seconds left in overtime, the Matadors gained a five-point advantage after Brodowski hit two free throws.

Then, after a Bakersfield turnover, Brodowski was fouled again. Bakersfield Coach Pat Douglass compounded that error when he was slapped with a technical foul.

Brodowski, a 6-foot-6 senior center, calmly hit four consecutive foul shots to give Northridge a 92-83 lead--and the ball out of bounds--with 37 seconds left.

“I’m very, very happy for our seniors,” Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy said. “This was possibly their last game and definitely their last game at home, and it’s nice to see them end it with a win.”

While Brodowski and Mazurie were the heroes in overtime, it was senior forward Derrick Gathers--who scored seven of his co-game-high 28 points in the last 4:30--who pulled Northridge back from a 70-66 deficit.

Point guard Wade Green led Bakersfield (23-4, 11-3 in conference play) with 28 points and forward Marvin Redeemer added 18 points.

After taking a 49-45 lead early in the second half, Northridge found itself trailing, 56-55, with 11:22 left.

Gathers started the comeback with a three-point basket to ignite an 11-5 Northridge run and the Matadors took a 66-61 lead with 8:05 remaining.

Bakersfield, led by Green and center Beau Redstone (four points each), scored on five of its next six possessions to take the 70-66 lead.

Northridge made 17 of 34 shots to lead, 43-40, at the half, but the Matadors had surrendered most of a 17-point advantage gained 8:23 before intermission.