CSUN Provides New Zealand Team With a Nice Going-Away Present

Two teams, one game, a send-off of sorts for both.

The New Zealand national team was closing out a nine-game, 11-day basketball series against West Coast universities. Cal State Northridge was four days shy of embarking on its regular season opener against sixth-ranked UCLA.

Thanks to its gracious hosts, New Zealand will be departing with a smile.

New Zealand, a gang of medium-height wide bodies, roughed up the Matadors, 68-51, Tuesday night in an exhibition game in front of 523 at Northridge.

Not exactly the shot of confidence Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy might have been anticipating.

“In some cases, some people might be questioning themselves,” Cassidy said. “And maybe that’s not all bad. Maybe we need to be working harder than we are.”

Or, at the very least, shooting, rebounding and playing defense significantly better.

Northridge shot 28.3%. Take away Mike Dorsey, who made five of eight shots, and the other Matador starters--Robert Hill, Shawn Stone, Peter Micelli and Ruben Oronoz--were a combined five for 32.

“I’ve never seen a team so completely off,” said Micelli, who made one of 10 shots and scored three points in 26 minutes.

Northridge’s woes on defense were just as pronounced. Time and again New Zealand shredded the Matadors with nifty passes and strong moves inside.

“They beat us up badly inside with their girth, experience and wisdom,” Cassidy said.

Eight of the 12 New Zealand players are at least 24 years old but, truth be told, they were not all that used to playing as a unit before their trip.

Coach Keith Mair said the team boasts the nucleus of what will be New Zealand’s Olympic team.

However, before the squad’s trip to the States, it practiced together only three days.

The victory over Northridge was New Zealand’s third on the trip, and by the largest margin. Among the losses were close games against Washington, Oregon State, Portland and San Jose State.

“We needed this one for a better trip home,” Mair said.

As for Northridge, Micelli said he will not dwell on the result. “This game will be out of my head in about five minutes,” he said.

“At the end of the season, no one remembers what you did in your exhibition games.”