Matadors’ Warmup Is No Sweat, 88-51

Most Cal State Northridge students are enjoying winter break somewhere other than at basketball games, judging from the sparse crowd Tuesday night, but the Matadors continued to bone up for their biggest tests.

In a final tuneup before opening Big Sky Conference play, the Matadors used a barrage of dunks, steals, three-pointers and just about anything else they desired to overpower Lewis-Clark State, 88-51, before 551 at the Northridge gymnasium.

Northridge (8-4) led by 43 in the waning minutes and--to the Matadors’ credit--rarely slipped to the level of the Division II Warriors (5-7), who had only eight players.

The Matadors forced 31 turnovers and had 17 steals, including seven by senior guard Derrick Higgins, who tied a school record he equaled twice before.

“I was happy we didn’t have a letdown,” Coach Bobby Braswell said. “It tells me we are maturing in the right direction.”

The blowout was an ideal opportunity for Northridge forward Rico Harris to test the waters after missing five games with a hip pointer. Harris made only four of 13 shots in 22 minutes but had 12 rebounds.

“I didn’t have my legs under my shot and I got winded, but it felt good to be back and I played without any pain,” Harris said.

Northridge will need everyone at full speed Saturday at Northern Arizona when the Matadors take on the defending Big Sky champion in a conference opener.

The Lumberjacks are one of several Big Sky teams whose nonconference record is at least equal to that of Northridge.

“That game means a lot because afterward we are home for three games and can really build something,” said guard Greg Minor, who made four three-point shots and scored 16 points for the Matadors.

Northridge will take more momentum into Big Sky play than in Braswell’s previous two seasons. The Matadors were 4-7 in nonconference games last season and 4-6 the season before.

Braswell, with a career record of 34-35, can reach .500 for the first time Saturday.

“Northridge hasn’t had a lot of success and all along I’ve wanted to put the team in a position to be successful,” Braswell said. “Beating Northern Arizona on the road will be difficult, although one of our assistants said that to be a champion you’ve got to beat a champion.”

Lewis-Clark was far from championship material. The Warriors were outrebounded, 48-22, and made 19 of 51 shots.

The tone was set when Northridge took a 15-0 lead, including three dunks by 6-9 forward Andre Larry. The Matadors finished with eight dunks, four by Larry, who had 13 points on six-of-eight shooting.

Although leading scorer Brian Heinle did not take a shot, the Matadors led, 42-23, at halftime by scoring 28 points on 16 turnovers and holding the Warriors to 33.3% shooting.

Harris entered the game at the 14:42 mark with Northridge ahead, 20-6, and scored on a seven-foot fall-away from the baseline less than a minute later.

Heinle scored only during a two-minute stretch early in the second half when he made two three-pointers and a turnaround shot.