Matadors Get a Tour, Then a Licking at Notre Dame

Good day for Cal State Northridge.

Bad night.

The Matadors had an enjoyable tour of some of the landmarks around the Notre Dame campus on Monday, and even got to meet Irish football Coach Lou Holtz after their morning shoot-around.

Then they helped Notre Dame snap a six-game losing streak, 76-58, before 8,402 at Joyce Center.

It has been a tough two weeks for the Matadors.

The Jan. 17 earthquake left several players homeless and the team without a home court to practice on. Then center Peter Micelli’s father, the only Northridge fan to follow the team on the road, died of a heart attack.

Coach Pete Cassidy was hopeful that returning to basketball on a two-game trip that started Saturday in Chicago against Northeastern Illinois would be “therapeutic.”

For the mind, perhaps. But not for the basketball skills.

Against Notre Dame, the Matadors (3-14) committed 17 turnovers and shot 41%.

Asked to sum up the experience, Cassidy replied, “Life on the road is hell.”

Monty Williams paced Notre Dame (6-13) with 20 points. He also had 15 rebounds.

Guards Andre Chevalier and Brooklyn McLinn paced Northridge with 15 and 14 points, respectively. However, the Matadors’ starting front line of Micelli, Brent Lofton and Shawn Stone combined for only 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The Irish, who play host to UCLA on Saturday, earned a 40-24 rebounding edge and outscored Northridge, 36-14, inside the key.

Notre Dame had not won since upsetting Missouri, 77-73, on Jan. 12.

“It’s great to see the guys smiling and laughing again,” Irish Coach John MacLeod said. “It’s an ordeal when you go 2 1/2 weeks without a win.”

Northridge can relate. The Matadors’ last victory came more than three weeks ago.