AMERICAN WEST : Northridge Wins, 86-81

Mike Dorsey scored 27 points and made two free throws with nine seconds left as Cal State Northridge held off Cal State Sacramento, 86-81, in the semifinals of the American West Conference tournament Friday at the Centrum.

Northridge (8-19) led by as many as 17 points and held a double-digit advantage for most of the game until Sacramento rallied in the final four minutes.

The Hornets (6-21) trimmed an eight-point deficit with two minutes to play to two when guard Mark Hunter made a jump shot and then forced two consecutive turnovers that were converted into layups.

Damond Edwards led Sacramento with 22 points.

Reserve Peter Micelli scored 15 points for Northridge, which had a 32-6 advantage in scoring by reserves. Eric Gray had 14 points and Ryan Martin 11 for the Matadors.

Northridge will play Southern Utah (17-11) tonight in the tournament championship game. Southern Utah, a 93-63 winner over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has defeated the Matadors twice this season.

San Luis Obispo (1-26) set a record for most losses by a first-year NCAA Division I program.