A Rare Laugher for CSUN, 85-68

Trenton Cross could have played better.

He could have made the dunk, appropriately placing an exclamation point on Cal State Northridge’s 85-68 victory Thursday night over Cal State Sacramento before 393 spectators at the Northridge Gym.

Nobody’s perfect, but until he jack-hammered an attempted slam off the back of the rim at the buzzer, Cross had come darn close.

The freshman point guard from Reseda High scored nine points, had four assists, contributed three steals and, like a human Cuisinart, diced up any backcourt pressure offered up by Sacramento.

Cross played only 17 minutes, which was more than enough.

“A lot of good things happened when he got on the floor,” Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy said.

Mike Dorsey and Eric Gray accounted for many of the highlights.

Dorsey snapped a three-game slump by scoring 23 points and grabbing a career-high 13 rebounds for Northridge, which is 2-0 in the American West Conference and 5-13 overall.

His personal slump coincided with his team’s three-game losing streak, which ended with the Matadors’ most lopsided victory in almost a year.

While Dorsey pounded away inside the key, Gray and Ryan Martin hurt Sacramento from the perimeter. Gray made six of 11 three-point shots and equaled his career high with 19 points.

Martin was three of six from beyond the arc on his way to 10 points. Overall, Northridge made 10 of 19 three-pointers.

“One thing they did tonight was hit three-point shots like I hadn’t seen anybody hit all year,” said Mark Hunter, who scored 19 points for Sacramento.

Michael Boyd scored 20 points for Sacramento (4-14, 0-1). Deon Amos had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Northridge held a double-digit advantage for most of the second half, although Sacramento pulled to within 77-68 with 2 minutes 28 seconds remaining.

A free throw by Cross pushed Northridge’s lead back to 10.