Northridge Makes a Point and Slips Past Fullerton, 77-76 : College basketball: Oronoz sinks a free throw with 19 seconds left and Matadors win after trailing by 14 in the second half.

For much of Saturday night’s nonconference game against Cal State Fullerton, it looked like business as usual for the Cal State Northridge basketball team.

Turnovers. Bad defense. Playing from behind.

But the Matadors turned it around, rallying from a 14-point second-half deficit to beat Fullerton, 77-76, in their home opener before 702 in the Matador Gym.

The winning point came on a free throw by Ruben Oronoz with 19 seconds on the clock.

The Matadors (1-2) held on when Matt Andrews blocked Chris Dade’s shot and Brian Thomas of Fullerton (0-2) missed a shot as time expired.

“It feels great,” Oronoz said. “Nothing like a good win. We worked hard and we came back. Hopefully this will be the start of something good.”

Oronoz scored 19 points for the Matadors, who were playing without their leading scorer. Damion Morbley did not play because he missed practice Friday.

Northridge point guard Trenton Cross scored 12 points, all of them after Northridge had fallen behind by 14.

Cross made a layup with 6:13 on the clock that gave Northridge a 67-65 lead, its first since the first half. After Oronoz made an 18-foot jump shot, Cross hit two free throws and capped the streak with an acrobatic drive.

He leaned into the lane and, releasing the ball while hanging in the air, swished an eight-footer as he was fouled. He hit the free throw to give Northridge a 74-65 lead with 3:33 to play.

But Fullerton came right back, scoring the next nine points to tie the game. The tying basket came when Cross’ inbounds pass was intercepted by Thomas, who put in a layup with 1:53 on the clock.

After Northridge’s Eric Gray hit a free throw, Fullerton took a 76-75 lead on Richardson’s layup with 1:04 remaining.

Cross tied the game with a free throw but missed his second shot. Fortunately for the Matadors, Oronoz grabbed the rebound and was fouled, and went to the line for the decisive free throw.

“I was just thinking, ‘I’d better not miss this,’ ” Oronoz said.

Ali Nayab scored 15 points for Fullerton. Chuck Overton added 13, Williams scored 12 and Richardson had 11 for the Titans.

In the first half, the Matadors allowed Fullerton to pound the ball inside. Only one of the Titans’ first-half baskets came from more than eight feet from the basket and most were layups.

Fullerton led, 40-31, at halftime and increased the lead to 54-40 at the 14:23 mark of the second half.

Gray, who missed the Matadors’ last game because of a shoulder injury, made two of four three-point shots in the second half and scored 14 points.

Josh Willis of Northridge hit four of his five shots in the second half and scored all 11 of his points after halftime.