Northridge Turns Frigid

How could something so promising turn so depressing?

After a spirited first-half performance that had Cal State Northridge leading by eight points, the Matadors drown in a flood of fouls and missed shots, losing to Montana, 84-65, Friday night before 4,207 at Montana.

The Grizzlies used a 27-4 run at the start of the second half to eradicate a 38-30 Northridge lead. Meanwhile, Matadors were being erased by fouls.

Mike O’Quinn, Jeff Parris and Carl Holmes fouled out and Jabari Simmons was ejected for scuffling with Montana’s Dominique Davis with 8:40 to play.

Northridge was held to four free throws in the second half until O’Quinn scored with 8:40 to play. By then the Grizzlies (13-11, 6-5 in Big Sky play) led, 57-44.

“They came out in the second half and took the game to another level,” Northridge coach Bobby Braswell said. “We didn’t respond. Maybe we were doing too much crying about the officiating.”

A total of 53 fouls were called, 29 against Northridge. Montana made 32 of 37 free throws.

Guard J.R. Camel took over early in the second half, scoring seven of Montana’s points in a 9-0 run that gave the Grizzlies a 39-39 lead. Ryan Dick, Jared Buckmaster and Mike Warhank each scored 15 for Montana and Camel had 14 points, eight assists and seven steals.

Northridge made only six of 29 shots in the second half after making 13 of 26 in the first half.

“They showed us their speed in the first half and that speeded us up,” Montana Coach Blaine Taylor said. “In the second half we were more settled. They can get you frenetic.”

O’Quinn led Northridge with 14 points, but the performance of freshman center Brian Heinle was indicative of the Matadors’ plight.

Heinle, who averages 16 minutes a game, played 18 in the first half and scored 11 points on four-of-eight shooting, including three three-pointers. But like his teammates, he turned cold in the second half, missing all five of his shots.

Northridge played without second-leading scorer Greg Minor, who is suspended this weekend for misbehaving during last week’s loss to Northern Arizona.