O’Quinn Shines in Long-Awaited Game

The days, months, yes, the nearly two years leading up to this game for Mike O’Quinn were finally numbered.

The former Loyola Marymount bad guy was with a new team and he professed a new outlook. Finally, O’Quinn would face the past; he would face the Lions.

The senior forward roared, scoring a career-high 27 points in Cal State Northridge’s 100-87 nonconference victory Saturday night in front of 1,171 at Northridge.

“It was like a fairy tale,” O’Quinn said. “The game I cared the most about, everything I dreamed about, it all came true.”

Northridge (2-3), which has won both of its home games, scored 100 points for the first time in Coach Bobby Braswell’s two seasons. It marked the first time Loyola Marymount (1-5) gave up 100 points since 1994.

O’Quinn, a Lions’ starter from 1994-96, was kicked off the team for an off-the-court incident and sat out last season after transferring to Northridge.

His time at Northridge hasn’t been smooth, either. Braswell suspended O’Quinn for a week of practice during the preseason and did not allow him to play against Oregon State because he mouthed off during practice.

But when the 6-foot-6 1/2 guard has played, he has flourished. Never has his talent been more evident than during a second-half run against the Lions that extended the Matadors’ 41-37 halftime lead into an 83-59 runaway.

O’Quinn scored 14 points during the 11-minute surge that also included the emergence of sophomore forward Jeff Parris, who had only 10 points coming in but scored 17 points against the Lions on seven-of-seven shooting.

“This was Parris’ coming-out party,” Braswell said.

Parris picked up the slack for forward Jabari Simmons, who did not start after being late for the second game in a row. Simmons played 12 minutes in the second half and did not score.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity and I took advantage of it,” Parris said. “We needed some help in the post and I got my chance.”

Guard Greg Minor had 22 points and five assists for Northridge and Derrick Higgins had 12 points, including eight in the first five minutes of the second half.

The Lions made only nine of 29 three-point shots and committed 24 turnovers and 32 fouls. Haywood Eaddy, a 5-4 guard, scored a career-high 28 points but made only one of eight three-pointers.

Northridge made 30 of 42 free throws, and it was good free-throw shooting that kept the Matadors close early in the first half until a 17-4 run pulled them ahead, 36-27, with 7:00 to play. The Matadors made eight of their first nine free throws and hit 12 of 16 in the half.

The Lions scored the last six points to close the gap to 41-37, but Northridge scored the first five points of the second half on a jump shot by Higgins and a three-pointer by Minor.

“We played good basketball in the second half,” Braswell said. “We were shooting too many three-pointers in the first half.”