Northridge Wins in Final Second

Percy Fisher scored on a two-foot jump shot with one second to play to give Cal State Northridge an 83-81 victory over Fort Lewis College on Tuesday night at Matador Gymnasium.

Keith Gibbs set up the winning basket when he drove the lane with six seconds left, drew the defense to him, and passed to Fisher.

“I thought Keith would take the jumper,” said Fisher, who was getting into position for a rebound.

The basket served as redemption for Fisher.

In the first half, he was whistled for traveling three times and was held to one free throw.

He committed three more turnovers in the second half before his game-winning shot.

“It felt good,” said Fisher, who finished with nine points and four rebounds.

While Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy would make no apology for the win, it should not have been so close against Fort Lewis (5-7), which is in its first season at the Division II level. Northridge, in its second Division I season, improved to 2-12.

“I think our players thought they had an easy win,” Cassidy said. “They learned to respect all. Like Coach (John) Wooden said. Respect all and fear none.”

Gibbs, who had a strong all-around game with 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and two steals, admitted the Matadors were not prepared.

“We didn’t get motivated at all,” Gibbs said. “When you’re 1-12, you gotta be motivated to play a junior high girls’ team. And I’m not comparing them to a girls’ team. They played great. They were hyped up.”

Northridge led, 70-59, with 8 minutes 28 seconds to play, but the Raiders rallied with an 11-2 run to pull within 72-70 with 5:03 left.

Other than David Swanson’s 12-foot jump shot, the Matadors did not score again in a six-minute span until Andre Chevalier drove the lane and fed Shelton Boykin for a layup with 1:58 left to pull Northridge to within 78-76.

Moments later, Chevalier tied the score, 79-79, with a three-point basket from the top of the key.

Following an off-balance, running one-handed basket by the Raiders’ Harry Hollines, Boykin, a 47% free-throw shooter, sank two foul shots to tie the score, 81-81, with 50 seconds left.

Hollines missed on a driving layup with 22 seconds left, Boykin grabbed the rebound and the Matadors called time out to set up the final play.

Boykin finished with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Chevalier scored a team-high 16 points, Swanson scored 14 and Brian Kilian scored 10, giving Northridge five double-figure scorers (along with Gibbs) for the first time all season.

It was a career high for Kilian and it tied Swanson’s career best.

Swanson, a seldom-used reserve who had not played in four of the past seven games, hit six of seven shots, including two from three-point range.

“I was glad for him because he’s been the most frustrated,” Gibbs said. “We all know he can shoot. When he’s feeling it like that you gotta keep pumping the ball to him.”

Tim Shaw led Fort Lewis with 27 points, including four three-point baskets.

Hollines scored 26 on uncontested drives and four-of-four three-point shots.

The Northridge defense also floundered in transition, allowing several Fort Lewis layups on cherry-pick plays.

The Matadors shot 51%--11% above its average, but committed 16 turnovers.