Martin Wins It for Northridge

Taking aim at a basket he described as 10-feet wide, Ryan Martin sank an 18-foot baseline jump shot with 22 seconds left Wednesday night to give Cal State Northridge a 65-64 victory over Montana State.

R.J. Belton’s 14-footer with two seconds remaining glanced off the rim, securing the Matadors’ sixth road victory since they moved to NCAA Division I ranks in 1990.

“We’re so used to having it go down to the end and not having it go our way,” Martin said. “This time we believed in ourselves.”

Northridge (3-7) led, 53-39, with 15:44 left, but went 8 1/2 minutes without a basket, enabling the Bobcats (3-6) to regain the lead.

With the shot clock at :15, Brooklyn McLinn drove the lane and found himself double-teamed. He flipped a pass to Martin, who sank the game-winner and finished with a career-high 21 points.

At one point in the first half, Martin, McLinn and Anthony Moten combined for five consecutive three-point baskets.

Moten scored 11 points, including a jump hook follow shot that kept the Matadors close with 1:52 to go. Teammate Andre Chevalier had 13 points, six assists and three steals.