Morbley Takes Hike and CSUN Takes Loss

It never gets boring at Cal State Northridge.

Shortly before halftime of a 72-56 nonconference loss to San Diego before 453 on Wednesday night at Matador Gym, leading scorer Damion Morbley got into an argument on the bench with Coach Pete Cassidy.

It ended with Morbley saying he didn’t want to play for Cassidy anymore, and Cassidy obliged.

“Damion is no longer a part of our program,” Cassidy said afterward. “I don’t want to force anyone to play if he doesn’t want to play.”

Morbley played six minutes in the first half. He went to the locker room with the team at halftime and did not return. He was not available for comment after the game.

Morbley, a 6-6 junior from Orange Coast College, came into the game averaging 16.7 points. He played in 10 of 16 games, missing one while serving a team-imposed suspension, three because of his grades and two due to illness.

Northridge guard Trenton Cross said the situation with Morbley was not a distraction, although Northridge played better in the first half than in the second.

“In the second half the effort was there, but our shots just weren’t falling,” Cross said.

Northridge (4-13) made only 30% of its shots in the second half, after leading for much of the first half. The Matadors trailed, 45-44, midway through the second half when the Toreros (8-8) went on a 13-3 run.

The Matadors spent the rest of the game putting up desperation three-point shots and got no closer than seven points.

“We had several good shots and they just didn’t go in and they hit some threes,” Cassidy said.

San Diego made 10 of 20 three-point shots, including five of seven in the second half.

Brian Miles, who had 21 points, made all three of his three-pointers. Andre Speech hit four of five three-pointers and had 19 points.

Northridge forward Eric Gray, who scored 14, said the Matadors’ defense was partially to blame for San Diego’s good shooting.

“We just need to step up our defensive intensity for 40 minutes,” he said.

After falling behind, 15-9, the Matadors went on a 15-4 run to take a 24-19 lead then stretched the lead to 28-21.

The Toreros had the last word of the half, taking a 31-28 halftime lead after a 10-0 run keyed by two three-pointers by Speech and two layups by Brock Jacobsen.

Jacobsen, a freshman from Crescenta Valley High, scored 11 points in 23 minutes.

Matador Notes

Because of an electrical problem, the scoreboard was not operative. Athletic Director Paul Bubb kept the time on the scoreboard control panel and an air horn marked substitutions and the end of halves.

The public-address announcer gave the time periodically. Manual flip cards on each side of the floor recorded the score.

“It reminded me of when I was little, playing at the park,” said Northridge guard Trenton Cross.