CSUN to Play on Fast Forward : College basketball: Undersized Matadors will begin Division I play by scrapping ball-control offense for a high-scoring running game.

The Runnin’ Matadors might not have that ring to it, but it aptly describes the current Cal State Northridge basketball team. Helter-Skelter and Run and Gun also serve as appropriate sobriquets. This season’s bunch knows only one speed--all out.

In just the first 10 minutes of the Matadors’ inaugural intrasquad scrimmage Friday afternoon, the Red team rang up 36 points to the White’s 30. When the officials called it quits after three 10-minute sessions, Red had prevailed, 116-93.

It was more than a fair imitation of the Loyola Marymount offense, the fastest-shooting system in college basketball.

And it is a dramatic departure for Coach Pete Cassidy. Faced with a severe size disadvantage--only three players stand taller than 6-foot-6--Cassidy scrapped his slowdown, ball-control offense and turned on the green light.

“Over the years I always believed that running was one-third of the game,” said Cassidy, now in his 20th year at CSUN. “Offense was one-third, defense was one-third and transition was one-third, but now you’d have to say there’s no balance. It’s heavy on the transition.”

It might seem odd that the 56-year-old Cassidy would change his spots after all these years, but he explains it simply.

“It gives us a better chance to be successful or I wouldn’t do it,” Cassidy said. “It matches our people. With the perimeter shooters we have, the system fits the kids.”

It certainly fit Friday for a trio of Red shooters who combined for 17 three-point baskets. Keith Gibbs led the way with seven and David Swanson and Kyle Kerlegan each had five.

“Coach (Rusty) Smith (former CSUN assistant) and Coach Cassidy told me we would be pushing it up but I didn’t think it would be like this,” said Gibbs, a junior college transfer from West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif.

“This is so hectic. It’s crazy. We are trying to cause a lot of problems for other teams.”

With a flurry of drives to the basket, along with his hot hand outside, Gibbs scored a game-high 35 points. Swanson, a transfer from Glendale College and a former Alemany High standout, finished with 20 points and Kerlegan, a transfer from Canada College in Redwood City, Calif., hit for 19.

In a show of the depth CSUN will need in its first Division I season, Erik Cooper also demonstrated a quick-shooting yet accurate touch. He led the White team with 25 points, including three baskets from three-point range.

Cooper is one of only three returning players from last season’s team. The others are point guard Eugene Humphrey, who dished out 13 assists for the White, and small forward Kirk Scott. Center Todd Bowser, who has rejoined the team after sitting out last season, scored 15 points and led the White with seven rebounds.

“We are a much, much better shooting team than we were last year,” Cassidy said of a team that ended the school’s Division II era with a 12-15 record, a 44.1 field-goal shooting percentage and a 28.5 percentage from three-point range.

“We did put the ball in the hole pretty well today. Obviously, we have to work on our defense. We weren’t picking people up in the backcourt and we’re forgetting where we need to be but we’ll come around. The offense makes it exciting. It is fun, and it is a real departure because I don’t have control out there. If I don’t get it done in practice . . .”

There is no rest for the weary in Cassidy’s scheme. His defense is as fast-paced as his offense.

“We’re extending the court,” Cassidy said. “We’re using man-to-man, some zone and some traps. The kids are happy with it. They like this style of play.”

At least one, the 6-foot-7, 300-pound Bowser, was concerned about keeping up, however.

“Especially after the year layoff,” Bowser said, “but the weight keeps coming off me, so to speak, so I feel like I’ll be able to go 40 minutes.”

The backboard presence of Bowser, who already has shed 23 pounds, is critical to a rebounding effort that must initiate the break.

“For all that girth Todd moves,” Cassidy said. “Some pro football scouts ought to look at him. He carries 300 pounds easily and he has great feet.”