Northridge Ends Season With Defeat

Well, he showed up.

Made nine of 14 field-goal attempts. Made seven of nine free throws. Made two key shots in the last two minutes with the game on the line. Even grabbed six rebounds.

Peter Micelli had his best game in his last game for Cal State Northridge.

And it still wasn’t enough.

Reggie Ingram made a driving bank shot with six seconds remaining to lift Southern Utah over Northridge, 83-82, in the American West Conference tournament championship game.

The shot gave Ingram 17 points in the game and a trophy as the tournament’s most valuable player. Northridge finished the season 8-20. Southern Utah is 17-11.

Had he missed, the award might have gone to Micelli, who only a week ago was in Coach Pete Cassidy’s doghouse.

Micelli, a fifth-year senior, missed a game against Southern Utah at Northridge two weeks ago to be in his sister’s wedding. The move angered Cassidy. The coach knew Micelli might be absent, but was upset that he did not call or show up for practice the next morning.

From goat to almost-hero.

A 15-foot jump shot by Micelli gave Northridge an 82-80 lead with 35 seconds to play.

Sean Allen, who scored 20 points, pulled Southern Utah back to within one point by making the first of two free throws with 12 seconds later.

Robert Hill rebounded Allen’s second attempt and was fouled by Keith Berard. But Hill came up short on the first of the one-plus-one. Shawn Stone grabbed the rebound for Northridge, but he was tied up by Jim Faulkner.

The possession, and a big break, went Southern Utah’s way, much to the disgust of Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy, who screamed for a foul.

After Ingram’s winning shot, Northridge had one chance, but Micelli’s inbound pass from the backcourt baseline bounced off the hands and head of Trenton Cross.

By the time Cross recovered the ball, he didn’t have enough time to dribble down court and shoot.

“We had it set up the way we wanted if Trent hadn’t fumbled it,” Cassidy said. “(Martin) was spotted up in the corner and Mike Dorsey was following.”

Dorsey, who, like Micelli, was named to the all-tournament team, scored 19 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, marking the fifth time in seven games he reached double digits in both categories.

Martin scored 17 points, including three three-point baskets in the final 6 minutes 40 seconds.

In defeating Northridge for the third time this season, Southern Utah improved its record at the Centrum to 12-1.

The American West Conference champion does not get an automatic invitation to the NCAA tournament, but the Thunderbirds are hoping to be asked to take part in the National Invitational Tournament.