San Diego State Is Too Much for CS Northridge This Time

Watching the Cal State Northridge basketball team play San Diego State in a nonconference game on Tuesday night, one couldn’t help but wonder: how did the Matadors beat this team two years in a row?

The Aztecs weren’t about to be embarrassed a third time, so they methodically took apart Northridge, 80-47, in front of 1,626 at the San Diego Sports Arena.

“We were a little bit out-horsed,” Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy said. “They pounded us early and that set the tone. They’ve got big, thick, strong guys.”

San Diego State (11-7) was led by 6-foot-8 Paul Jarrett, who scored 16 points, and 6-10 Leon Carter, who had 13. Northridge has no one taller than 6-7.

“They came out hard on us,” said Northridge center Tom Samson. “If we can’t [play defense] inside, we are not going to win conference. And that’s our goal. We have to salvage this season somehow.”

The Matadors (4-15), who have lost six in a row, also committed 23 turnovers and shot 35%.