Late Three-Pointer Beats CS Northridge, 74-71

Northern Arizona guard Anthony Williams made a three-point basket with one second to play, handing Cal State Northridge a 74-71 loss in its home opener Friday night at Matador Gymnasium.

Williams, who had not scored previously from the field, drove the length of the floor and fired an off-balance shot over Keith Gibbs.

The Matadors (0-4) lost their seventh consecutive game, dating to last season. They trailed by 60-47 with 10:22 remaining, but went on a 19-6 run to make the score 66-66 with 3:47 left.

After a Lumberjack free throw, Northridge took a 71-67 lead on Ryan Martin’s three-pointer and Gibbs’ layup.

David Wolfe, Northern Arizona’s 6-foot-10 center, answered with consecutive eight-foot turnaround jump shots to tie the score, 71-71, with 42 seconds remaining.

A miscommunication between Andre Chevalier and Gibbs on a backdoor pass gave the Lumberjacks the ball with six seconds remaining.

“We didn’t lose the game at the end,” Gibbs said. “We lost it in the beginning and the middle. We showed a lot of heart coming back, but we should have showed it the whole game.”

Gibbs led the Matadors with 21 points.