Chevalier’s Shot Gives Northridge Revenge, 65-63

The Cal State Northridge basketball team has a checklist for success that doesn’t have anything to do with shooting percentage or rebounding.

Floor burns? Check.

Bruised knees? Check.

Anyone take a how-did-this-get-here Andre Chevalier pass off the schnozzle? Check. Was the ball in Chevalier’s hands with the game on the line? Check.

Well, then the Matadors probably won.

Check.

Chevalier sank a three-point basket with 22 seconds to play to lift Northridge to a 65-63 win over Southern Utah in a nonconference basketball game Saturday before 721 in the Northridge gym.

Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy said Chevalier’s assignment was to pass the ball to center Peter Micelli, who was to look for the best of several passing or shooting options.

Micelli, who had 15 points, simply gave the ball right back to Chevalier, who did not hesitate to shoot. “We had the right guy with the ball,” Cassidy said.

Chevalier, a junior point guard, finished with 12 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Chevalier’s first steal set a school record. He has 123 steals in his career.

His last key defensive play helped seal the win. Southern Utah’s Delmar Johnson was forced to take a desperation fall-away jumper from more than 25 feet with Chevalier in his face in the final seconds. The shot hit the back of the rim and Northridge (9-13) escaped with its sixth consecutive home-court victory.

Chris Yard, the recipient of several nifty Chevalier passes, earned game-high honors with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Brooklyn McLinn added 11 points, James Morris had four steals and freshman Robert Hill provided a spark off the bench with tenacious defense and rebounding.

The Matadors avenged a 25-point loss to the Thunderbirds (10-10) two weeks ago in Cedar City.

Northridge players said greater intensity on their part was the difference. “When we play hard we win, that’s the bottom line,” Micelli said.

Richard Barton led Southern Utah with 17 points, but he had only four with Yard guarding him in the second half. “He’s their go-to guy,” Yard said. “If you shut him down, it affects everybody on their team.”

Barton, James Lewis and Curtis Loyd combined to score all but four of Southern Utah’s 37 points in the first half. In the second 20 minutes, they had 10.

Loyd, who had 10, was held scoreless in the second half. Lewis finished with 16.