Emotion Helps Northridge Get Past Loyola, 102-95

There was no shortage of incentive for Cal State Northridge Tuesday night.

The Matadors wanted to give Coach Pete Cassidy his 300th victory, they wanted leading scorer Keith Gibbs to end his career on a winning note and they wanted to establish themselves with a victory over a Division I Southland team.

By defeating Loyola Marymount, 102-95, before a Matador Gymnasium crowd of 2,276, the largest in 14 years, Northridge accomplished all of its goals.

“I loved it, I loved every minute of it,” Northridge guard James Morris said. “This game had special incentive for Coach and for Keith. We had to win it. It meant so much.”

For Cassidy, who is 300-260 in his 21st season at Northridge “a win over Loyola feels better than a 300th win. All 300 wins means is you’ve been around a long time.”

It was an emotional game for Gibbs, who learned of his stepfather’s death Tuesday morning. Last month, Gibbs’ maternal grandfather died.

“It looks like my last game of the year since I’m going home tonight to be with my family,” said Gibbs, a senior from San Jose.

Northridge (10-15) won for the ninth time in its last 12 games. Loyola (13-11) had a two-game winning streak stopped in its final nonconference game.

“I knew they’d be tough,” Loyola Coach Jay Hillock said. “They are really on a roll. They wanted this game probably more than we did. They played excited and upbeat.”

Gibbs led Northridge with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Shelton Boykin scored 18 points.

Terrell Lowery, who scored 41 points in his last outing, led the Lions with 23 points.