Without Cassidy, CSUN Falls : College basketball: Matador coach hospitalized with intestinal pain. Boise State romps to 64-48 victory.

Cal State Northridge wanted to win one for its ailing coach Friday night, but instead the Matadors turned in their poorest performance of the season at Matador Gymnasium in a 64-48 loss to Boise State.

Northridge, which was coached by assistant Tom McCollum in head Coach Pete Cassidy’s absence, was held to a season low in points and a 30.4% field-goal shooting effort, its worst of the season.

Cassidy was admitted to Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Woodland Hills late Friday morning after running a high fever and complaining of intestinal pain.

According to Northridge Athletic Director Bob Hiegert, Cassidy will undergo a CAT scan today. Depending on those results, he might face an operation for what Hiegert described as an intestinal or stomach-related condition.

“We had the incentive to play harder for him,” Northridge guard Andre Chevalier said. “I don’t know. We just got dead legs. It just wasn’t there for us.”

Not only was Northridge without its coach, but Todd Bowser, its second-leading scorer and rebounder, was sidelined by a partially dislocated right shoulder.

Backup center Percy Fisher showed flashes of a strong inside game in Bowser’s absence, but when he was on the bench catching his breath, McCollum was forced to use Peter Micelli, an inexperienced 6-foot-8 center from Beverly Hills High, who was limited to four free throws in 11 minutes.

Fisher recovered from having two first-half dunks wiped out by traveling calls to lead Northridge with 16 points and a career-high nine rebounds.

Northridge fell to 7-14 overall and 5-2 at home with its third consecutive loss. It also was the Matadors’ eighth loss in nine games against Big Sky Conference teams.

Boise State, 12-9, was led by Michael Trotter, who scored a career-high 20 points despite a cast on his broken left wrist.

Northridge never recovered from a 16-0 Boise State run that gave the Broncos a 16-4 lead with 13 minutes 51 seconds left in the first half.

In the span of 5:22 in which Northridge was held scoreless, the Matadors turned the ball over seven times, and missed four shots, one of which was blocked.

David Keeter finally ended the drought for Northridge with a three-point basket. But CSUN’s offense remained sluggish. Over the next nine minutes the Matadors managed just six more points and trailed, 28-13.

A pair of free throws by Kyle Kerlegan and Fisher, a basket inside by Shelton Boykin off a great feed from Keith Gibbs and a Gibbs’ follow dunk pulled Northridge to within nine at 30-21, but Boise State scored four points in the last 37 seconds of the half to take a 13-point lead at halftime, 34-21.

The Broncos hit 52.4% of their shots and committed five fewer turnovers than Northridge, which committed 22 miscues.

Boise State’s athletic ability was more than Northridge could handle as its eight dunks attest--five by 6-6 forward Billy Fikes.

Notes

It was only the third game Pete Cassidy has missed in his 20 years as Northridge coach. He has missed games previously because of the death of his father and the flu. . . . Fans signed a giant get-well card for Cassidy. . . . Reserve three-point shooting specialist Dave Swanson of Northridge missed the game because of the flu.

For the first time, Northridge players wore an American flag on their uniforms honoring the troops in the Persian Gulf. The flags were ordered several weeks ago, but were delayed by the excessive demand. . . . CSUN senior guard Erik Cooper, who regained his academic eligibility Jan. 28, quit the team. He did not appear in a game since regaining his eligibility.