Chevalier Warms Cold-Shooting CSUN, 82-73

Andre Chevalier scored 19 points Friday night to help bring cold-shooting, turnover-prone Cal State Northridge out of its doldrums and past Cal State Sacramento.

A crowd of 1,647, one of the largest in Northridge’s 34-year basketball history, witnessed the 82-73 victory.

Northridge (7-14) has now won six of eight games after an 0-10 start.

Sacramento (2-18), a first-year independent, lost its fourth consecutive game and 13th in a row on the road.

Chevalier, a sophomore point guard, played 37 minutes because backup James Morris remained sidelined with an inflammation of the sac around the heart.

Unlike his teammates, who shot 40% from the field and 63% from the free-throw line, Chevalier had the hot hand. He hit six of nine field-goal attempts and made seven of nine foul shots.

The former Cleveland High standout began the game with both a stomach ache and a headache and ended it with a bloody nose and a sprained ankle.

“I just took James’ place, filling in for my homeboy,” Chevalier said of the 5-foot-8 Morris, who is usually bruised and battered after games.

Chevalier’s flu symptoms in the early stages of the game affected his judgment and led to five of the Matadors’ 10 first-half turnovers.

Northridge committed 17 turnovers in the game, most of them unforced.

“That’s horrible,” Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy said. “I don’t handle mistakes well. When they don’t do the things they’re capable of doing, I get upset.”

Cassidy was particularly miffed by a behind-the-head pass from Keith Gibbs and a couple of alley-oop passes that missed their intended targets.

“I don’t think flamboyance and flashiness and being cute equates success,” Cassidy said. “For every one of those crowd-pleasing plays there are five times we throw it away.”

Gibbs was spectacular on two plays in the opening minutes of the game. On a steal and assist from Brian Kilian he hit a running dunk over a Hornet defender and off a pass from Brooklyn McLinn he scored on a 360-degree dunk.

Percy Fisher and Shelton Boykin also heard the roar of the crowd. Fisher scored on a one-handed jam off a nifty feed from Gibbs, who had seven assists, and Boykin drove the baseline for a one-handed dunk.

Fisher scored 11 of his 15 points and grabbed seven of his eight rebounds in the second half.

Despite Fisher’s poor first half, Cassidy reminded him that he had only one rebound and started him in the second half, instead of Kilian.

“I told him I wanted to see some thunder,” Cassidy said. “I was hoping if I started him it would get him off the dime. Along those same lines I want to say how much I’m pleased with (Kilian’s) play.”

Kilian grabbed eight rebounds, scored six points and made two steals. Boykin also had eight rebounds as Northridge out-rebounded the Hornets, 48-33.

Along with Chevalier, freshman reserve Ryan Martin provided perimeter scoring with three three-point baskets.

Cassidy was careful not to undermine his team’s confidence.

“I don’t mean to sound like sour grapes,” Cassidy said. “It’s a win and we’ll take it. I just think we can play better.”