Emotion Unable to Lift CSUN

Cal State Northridge simply doesn’t show off very well.

Twice the Matadors have invited former recruit John Flowers to visit their gymnasium and witness a game. And Tuesday, for the second time, Northridge lost, this time 69-61 in a nonconference game against St. Mary’s.

Northridge is 6-3 at home, but 0-2 with a tide of emotion flowing in the Matadors’ favor. The Matadors lost to Fullerton, 70-63, on Dec. 19, the date of Flowers’ first trip to the campus.

“I don’t know what happens when I come,” said Flowers, who lost both legs as the result of injuries suffered in an Aug. 10 car accident in Kansas City. “Maybe I’m a little jinx.”

Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy had another view.

“Anytime you play on emotion, it’s only good for a while,” Cassidy said. “Eventually the cerebral aspects of the game have to take over.”

When they did, Northridge was in trouble.

The Matadors led, 52-50, after a jump shot by Andre Chevalier with 4:45 to play, but St. Mary’s responded with 12 consecutive points.

The Gaels did most of their damage from the free-throw line, making 21 of 27 in the game and 12 of 14 in the final 1 minute 13 seconds.

“That’s just mental toughness,” St. Mary’s Coach Ernie Kent said. “We’ve grown up over the course of the season and we’re playing pretty well right now.”

St. Mary’s (10-14) has won three in a row, five of its last six and three straight on the road. Northridge (9-16) lost its third consecutive game.

The Matadors got 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds from center Peter Micelli, but they were not able to pass the ball inside with nearly enough regularity.

As a result, Northridge lived--and died--on its outside shooting. The Matadors made only five of 23 three-point attempts.

Chris Yard, a forward who had 53 points in his last three games, took only four shots and finished with seven points. Chevalier scored 15 points, but was only five-for-14 shooting.

Darrell Daniel scored 18 points for St. Mary’s, which out-shot the Matadors, 52.4% to 41.8%.

NIGHT TO REMEMBER: More than $15,000 was raised for former CSUN basketball recruit John Flowers, who lost both legs in an auto accident. C13