Northridge Loses to Southern Utah in Overtime

The Cal State Northridge basketball team will take its positive feelings wherever it can get them these days.

Even in a loss.

The Matadors played their most inspired game of the season on Saturday night here against Southern Utah. Northridge even had a two-point lead in the final seconds, but Reggie Ingram tied it on a spinning 12-footer with four seconds left and the Thunderbirds won the American West Conference game, 72-65, in overtime before 4,188 fans at the Centrum.

“I’m very proud of the guys,” said Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy. “They battled and fought and hung in there against a good team on the road.”

Northridge, 4-14 overall and 0-1 in the conference, could have given itself some insurance before Ingram’s shot when senior Robert Hill was at the line for two free throws with 19 seconds remaining. Hill, who had shot only 12 free throws all season and none Saturday night, missed both.

The Thunderbirds (10-8, 1-0) called timeout before Ingram made his acrobatic shot, which brought back memories of last year’s AWC tournament final, when Ingram made a 10-footer with six seconds left to give the Thunderbirds an 83-82 victory over Northridge.

Saturday’s loss dropped Cassidy’s record in 25 seasons at Northridge to an even 331-331.