The Excitement’s Too Much for Northridge Again, 56-54

When Bobby Braswell came to Cal State Northridge, he wasn’t so bold as to promise instant victories. He did vow to bring exciting basketball, though.

Six games into his tenure, he has done that.

Brad Millard’s buzzer-beating layup gave St. Mary’s a 56-54 nonconference victory over Northridge before 471 on Monday night at Matador Gym. Four of Northridge’s games have been decided in the final 15 seconds, and Northridge (1-5) has lost all four.

“This is unbelievable, simply unbelievable,” Northridge forward Tom Samson said. “And I thought it was frustrating what we went through last year [being 7-20]. But this is beyond me. With all the work we’ve put in and all the work coaches have put in, to have been through what we’ve been through, it makes me sick.”

The game was tied at 54 with 35 seconds remaining and St. Mary’s (7-2) with the ball. Point guard Kamran Sufi held the ball near midcourt for about 20 seconds, then passed to guard Josh Unruh. Unruh drove along the baseline and shuffled a pass to 7-foot-3 Millard, who put in a layup at the buzzer.

St. Mary’s players celebrated wildly while Northridge players looked to the officials, who then looked at each other without making a call for several seconds. Official Mark Ayotte finally signaled the basket was good.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Samson said. “No one called it. They all just looked at each other. Then it was like someone just said, ‘Let’s call it good and get out of here.’ ”

But Braswell had more reasons to be upset than simply one layup. Northridge’s final two possessions ended in a turnover and a blocked shot. And the Matadors shot only 46% from the free-throw line.