Conference Call Has Awakened Matadors

Sure, it’s just the American West Conference. Only four teams and no NCAA tournament berth. In its second season, which will be its last.

But for the Cal State Northridge basketball team, which has no mathematical shot at even a winning record, it’s all there is.

The Matadors came out Thursday night and finally did what Coach Pete Cassidy has been telling them to do and beat Cal State Sacramento, 71-62, before 449 at Matador Gym.

“The American West is not the SEC or the ACC,” point guard Trenton Cross said. “But it’s still something to us.”

Northridge (5-15, 1-1 in conference play) also played well Saturday night in an overtime loss to AWC favorite Southern Utah on the road.

Center Tom Sampson had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Matadors, who snapped a six-game losing streak.

“Tom is playing great,” Cross said. “I think he’s stepped up more than anyone.”

Samson, who has provided an inside threat for a team that has lacked it most of the season, said his recent success is a matter of being in the right place at the right time. In more ways than one.

His playing time steadily increased because center Kevin Taylor suffered a season-ending knee injury and forward Damion Morbley quit the team.

“It’s not hard to make layups,” Samson said. “[My] stats look good but everyone has just been feeding me [under the basket]. I’d hope any Division I player can make a layup.”

Northridge led, 25-18, after 15 minutes, but fell back into its bad habits near the end of the half. Sacramento (4-15, 0-2) rallied to tie the game, 29-29, in the opening moments of the second half.

However, Northridge launched an impression run to take control. It was the most consecutive points (14) the team has scored all season, exceeding a 13-0 stretch at St. Mary’s.

The Matadors seemed to do everything right during that 3 1/2-minute burst, from solid offensive rebounds to steals to dunks.

“We came out in the second half and made a conscious effort to put them away,” Samson said.

The Hornets weren’t quite buried, hitting several three-point shots and pulling to within 52-50 with 5 minutes 19 seconds to play.

That was as close as they could get, as the Matadors sank nine of 10 free throws in the final 2:04.