Northridge’s Travel Woes Surface Again in 100-79 Loss

Once again, Cal State Northridge couldn’t transform the momentum of a home victory into a win on the road.

After downing Idaho State on Wednesday to end a six-game losing streak, Northridge expected to give Southern Utah State a battle, but the Matadors backslid Saturday night and lost, 100-79, at The Centrum.

In 12 of its 14 losses on the road, Northridge (7-19) has trailed at halftime, and in six of those games the margin was 17 points or more.

This time, Northridge trailed by 10 points just four minutes into the game. By halftime, the Thunderbirds (15-11), a third-year NCAA Division I independent, led by 19.

“This is characteristic of a team that is still not comfortable together,” said Northridge assistant coach Tom McCollum, who took over the head coaching duties Feb. 8 when Coach Pete Cassidy came down with an intestinal condition that required surgery.

“We had a lot of new people and just as they were getting comfortable together we’ve had all these injuries. It retarded our development. We’re taking the floor with confidence, but not aggressive confidence. We don’t feel we can come out and take over.”

After a basket in the opening seconds by Northridge center Percy Fisher, who started in place of the injured Todd Bowser, Southern Utah reeled off 12 consecutive points. The lead grew to 16 before Northridge finally found the mark on three-point baskets by David Keeter and David Swanson.

But six consecutive turnovers stalled the Matadors’ momentum, including two traveling violations, one bad pass, and a lane violation that negated a free throw.

By the time the Matadors survived a possession long enough to get a shot off, they missed. Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds outscored them, 10-1, to push their advantage to 21 points

“It is anxiety,” McCollum said. “We start doing well, we get on a roll and we want to make more and more happen. We wind up pushing too hard.”

Northridge finished the half with 13 turnovers and only a 35.1% mark from the field. In contrast, the Thunderbirds shot 58.5%, including 18 points on layups or baskets within the key. Northridge was limited to a pair of layups and two baskets inside.

The Matadors were also at a disadvantage from the free-throw line. Southern Utah attempted 18 foul shots to Northridge’s one.

“The disparity is real obvious,” McCollum said. “I’m pleased that we kept our poise.”

In the second half, Southern Utah led by as many as 25 points, but Northridge cut the deficit to 13 with its only run of the game, a 12-0 spurt featuring a steal and two free throws by Sean Davis, four points by Swanson and baskets by Martin Smith, Kirk Scott and Brian Kilian.

The run ended abruptly on four consecutive misses and two turnovers that allowed the Thunderbirds to push their advantage past 20 once more.

The Thunderbirds’ Peter Johnson did most of the damage with four three-point baskets on six attempts en route to a game-high 34 points--27 in the first half.

Northridge was led in scoring by Swanson, a reserve who made all three of his three-point attempts and finished with 12 points despite a severe headache.

Davis, who averages only 4.2 points, was the team’s next-leading scorer with 10, one less than his season-high last Wednesday. He added a career-high nine rebounds.

Fisher, who sat out Northridge’s last game because he missed a practice, also asserted himself on the boards with a career-high 11 rebounds to go with nine points.

Notes

Bowser, whose minutes have been restricted since Feb. 8 because of a shoulder sprain, was scratched from the lineup just before tip-off after having his shoulder pop out of socket when he bent down to pick up a ball. . . . Starting swingman Keith Gibbs, who missed the past three games after a fainting spell Feb. 11, played 15 minutes in a reserve role and was clearly rusty. He did make two assists, including a snappy no-look pass. . . . For the second consecutive game, team rebounding leader Shelton Boykin’s playing time was limited because of the lingering effects of the flu. Boykin played 17 minutes and had three rebounds.