CSUN Comes Up Short at Long Beach : College basketball: Matadors rally in the second half to take lead, but lose, 87-74.

Like a character out of a science-fiction movie, Cal State Northridge came back from the dead Tuesday night against Cal State Long Beach.

Not once.

Not twice.

But, several times.

The Matadors, all but comatose in back-to-back blowout losses to start the season, put up a fight before falling to the 49ers, 87-74, in a nonconference game at University Gym.

Playing without point guard Andre Chevalier, Northridge (0-3) committed 28 turnovers and had four players foul out. Long Beach (2-0) had 21 turnovers and three players foul out.

“I’ll tell you what,” said Brooklyn McLinn, who filled in for Chevalier. “I appreciate Andre just that much more. I don’t know how he goes a whole game, taking the ball up the floor all the time, and has only one or two turnovers.”

McLinn, whose fortes are defense and long-range shooting, had nine turnovers.

Chevalier watched the game in street clothes from the Northridge bench because of an injury to his left foot he sustained with only two minutes left in a lopsided loss last Saturday night against Gonzaga.

A starter since the sixth game of his freshman season, the senior from Cleveland High missed the first game of his college career after testing the foot during an afternoon shoot-around.

Chevalier said he would be ready for Northridge’s appearance this weekend in a tournament at Southwest Missouri State. “No way do I miss two games,” Chevalier said.

Judging by the way the Matadors handled Long Beach’s full-court press, the team desperately needs him.

Northridge often had trouble simply bringing the ball inbounds against the 49ers. The Matadors took one five-second call, narrowly avoided another by calling a time out, and passed in the ball several other times at the last second.

Coach Pete Cassidy said he expected as much. “I told them (not to) think about running an offense that’s going to be pretty,” the Northridge coach said. “They’re not going to let you.”

Long Beach took a 15-3 lead fueled by an unexpected source.

Center Terrance O’Kelley, who did not attempt a three-point shot in Long Beach’s opener, made three of four while scoring 13 points in the first half.

Northridge trailed, 45-34 at the half.

The Matadors still were down by 11 points with 11:28 remaining when McLinn made two free throws to spark a 14-4 run by Northridge to turn the game around.

An basket by Brent Lofton gave the Matadors a 63-62 lead with eight minutes left before Long Beach unveiled another surprise.

Freshman James Cotton, who expected to redshirt this season up until a few days ago, hit a pair of three-pointers as the 49ers responded with a 14-2 spree.

“The other night I woke up at three o’clock in the morning and said, ‘What am I doing?’ ” Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg said of his decision to play Cotton, a star at St. John Bosco High last year. “That’s probably the smartest decision I’ve made.”

Cotton finished with 13 points. Mike Atkinson led Long Beach with 17 points. O’Kelley added 16 points and Juaquin Hawkins had 13 points and seven rebounds.

Chris Yard had 23 points and nine rebounds for Northridge.

Lofton and Peter Micelli had 14 points apiece for Northridge. However, Micelli also had seven turnovers.

Long Beach’s win avenged a 81-78 overtime loss to Northridge last season when the 49ers advanced to the NCAA Tournament.