CS Northridge Gets Scare, but Wins

It looked like another game was about to unravel for Cal State Northridge Friday night.

Freshman point guard Andre Chevalier was tripped, stripped of the ball and San Diego scored to take its biggest lead of the game.

But Chevalier scored on a driving layup on the Matadors’ next possession, igniting a second-half run that gave them their second win of the season, 83-73 over the Toreros.

The victory kept Northridge undefeated at Matador Gymnasium. The Matadors are 2-6 overall in their first Division I season.

The Toreros of the West Coast Conference lost their third game in a row and are 5-3.

“As you know, I get knocked down all the time, so I don’t know if that gave me incentive as much as the turnover,” said Chevalier, who scored a season-high 16 points and had five assists. “Whenever I make a turnover I try to get the ball back and make up for my mistake instead of putting my head down like I used to do.”

After Chevalier scored, he drove the same spot again, taking Kyle Kerlegan’s man with him, then he wheeled to hit Kerlegan, who made a three-point basket. From there, Northridge outscored San Diego, 21-6, to take a 15-point lead.

Northridge shot a season-high 50%, including seven of 14 from three-point range. Kerlegan scored 18 points and Keith Gibbs had 12.

San Diego was led by Dondi Bell, who had 18 points and eight rebounds. Pat Holbert had 17 points and Anthony Thomas 16.