* CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (2-3) at OHIO...

By STEVE HENSON

Dec. 15, 1997 12 AM PT

* CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (2-3) at OHIO STATE (4-2), 5 PST--The emergence of freshman guard Michael Redd, averaging 23.2 points and shooting 56.3%, has enabled new Buckeye Coach Jim O’Brien to begin his tenure on a positive note. Containing Redd will be especially difficult because guard Derrick Higgins, the Matadors’ best defender, is sidelined indefinitely because of a stress fracture in his right foot. Forward Brian Hagens, a transfer from New Orleans, will make his debut, giving Northridge needed strength inside. Guards Mike O’Quinn (21 points) and Greg Minor (20.5) are the Matadors’ top scorers.

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Steve Henson

Steve Henson is a reporter with the Fast Break sports team at the Los Angeles Times. He previously served as an assistant editor and reporter in the Sports department. Henson was a leader in digital-only newsrooms from 2007-19 as a senior editor and columnist at Yahoo Sports and as senior editor at the USA Today Sports Media Group. This is his second stint at The Times, having covered the Dodgers and UCLA as well as doing enterprise, investigative and features writing from 1985-2007. Henson was awarded first place in sports features in 2021 by the L.A. Press Club and has been honored several times by the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) and also by the California News Publishers Assn., the Football Writers Assn. of America and U.S. Basketball Writers Assn.