Northridge Gets Wish, Not Win
Cal State Northridge got its wish, a crew of officials with restrained whistles who in Coach Bobby Braswell’s words, “Let the players play.”
If only the Matadors played well.
Eastern Washington beat Northridge at its own up-tempo, full-contact game, 87-80, Thursday night and did it on the Matadors’ home court.
“They were tougher than we were,” Braswell said. “We were flat. That’s the only word I can think of to describe it.”
Northridge (8-13, 4-7 in Big Sky Conference play) was coming off its most impressive performance--an 87-78 victory at Montana State--and beginning a much-anticipated five-game home stretch.
Somehow, it translated into an emotionless effort against an opponent Northridge could have pulled even with in the conference standings with a victory.
“No fire,” Matador forward Jabari Simmons said. “We played a team we believe we are better than, and we expected to win just by coming out.”
Northridge came out cold in the second half, not making a field goal until a 39-38 Eastern Washington lead had grown to 54-41 with 13:45 to play.
Carl Holmes made the Matadors’ first field goal of the half 10 seconds later, but Eastern Washington (12-9, 6-5) turned up the tempo and made several fast-break baskets in building a 76-59 lead with five minutes left.
Karim Scott, Eastern Washington’s leading scorer, scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half after playing only seven minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.
Scott made eight of 11 shots and guard Deon Williams made seven of 13 en route to 20 points to pace Eastern Washington’s 54.7% shooting.
Northridge was effective getting the ball inside to Simmons, who scored a career-high 30 on 10-of-19 shooting. However, the Eagles’ pressure defense kept the Matadors from getting many open perimeter shots.
“We played a physical, aggressive game,” Eastern Washington Coach Steve Aggers said. “Defense wins on the road, and we proved that tonight.”
Braswell was left to figure out a team that entered the game with a 5-1 record at home, but left listless and with a loss.
“It’s hard to read this team,” he said. “I stopped trying to predict how they are going to play a long time ago.”
