Cross Throws Away Matadors’ Chance

After Cal State Northridge’s crushing 61-59 loss to Nevada-Las Vegas on Saturday night before 13,066 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center, Brady Mertes put his arm around Trenton Cross, consoling his friend.

It was Cross whose errant pass whizzed by Mertes just as he was heading the other way, sailing out of bounds for a turnover with Northridge down by a point and 4.9 seconds left.

“I just made a mistake,” said Cross.

The Matadors had gotten the ball back with 12 seconds to play when Kevin Taylor blocked Tony Lane’s shot. Cross grabbed the ball and dribbled downcourt. But instead of driving to the basket for a layup or to draw a foul, Cross passed the ball backward to a spot that Mertes had just vacated.

The Rebels got the ball back, added a point on a free throw and won the game when Mertes’ inbounds pass with 2.6 seconds left was intercepted.

“I’ll take [the blame for] this one,” said Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell, who made his debut. “I didn’t have us prepared at the end of the game. I should have had a last-second play.”