Late CS Northridge Rally Falls Short Against Fresno State

Seth Marshall scored 18 points to lead Fresno State to a 77-67 nonconference victory over Cal State Northridge Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs (1-0) opened a 27-point lead in the first half but had to hold off a late Northridge rally for the victory.

The Matadors (0-1), who shot only 37.5% for the game and were outrebounded, 26-8, in the first 20 minutes, were able to trim the lead to five points in the final minute, but six consecutive free throws by the Bulldogs clinched the victory.

Travis Stel scored 12 of his 13 points in the first half as the Bulldogs opened a 49-26 lead.

Northridge’s rally was spurred by center Peter Micelli, a sophomore who redshirted last season after playing sparingly as a freshman. Micelli scored 14 points in the second half. He finished with 18 to share high-point honors with Marshall.

The Bulldogs’ advantage shrunk as low as five, 69-64, when Brooklyn McLinn made a three-point shot with 35 seconds remaining. McLinn scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half.

In the final 31 seconds, Fresno State made six consecutive free throws as the Matadors were forced to foul.