Matadors Show Another Side in 81-63 Victory
The intensity and emotion absent two days earlier in a listless loss returned to Cal State Northridge on Saturday.
Every aspect of the Matadors’ game was sharp. Relentless full-court defense, crisp ball-handling and penetration, expert three-point shooting, it all added up to an 81-63 victory over Portland State at Northridge.
The Matadors (9-13, 5-7 in Big Sky Conference play) took a 7-0 lead, quickly built it to 21-6 and never allowed the Vikings (13-10, 8-4) to pull closer than 12.
How could this be the same Northridge team that appeared to sleepwalk through an 87-80 loss to Eastern Washington on Thursday night?
“I have no idea,” Matador Coach Bobby Braswell said. “We came out with fire, and I don’t know why that comes and goes. This was the first time all season we competed for a full 40 minutes.”
If Northridge fans found it hard to believe their eyes, they can watch it again on a TCI Cable tape-delay telecast on channel 15 Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Full-court pressure kept Portland State’s top scorers, Jason Hartman and Brian Towne, from getting open shots at the basket. Towne, who averages 16 points, scored only four and was zero for eight from three-point range.
Hartman, a junior from Thousand Oaks High who scored 33 points in Portland State’s 83-75 victory over Northridge on Jan. 3, had 23 points and 10 rebounds, but had to scramble for points on rebound baskets and by making eight of nine free throws.
“Their pressure was tremendous, that’s what lost the game for us,” Hartman said.
Portland State made only 36% of its shots and made just nine field goals in the first half.
Greg Minor was the only Northridge player to make more than half his shots, but his six-of-eight shooting all came from three-point range. He finished with 18 points.
Minor, who hadn’t scored in double figures since Jan. 5, made all six in the first half--a Northridge record for a half--to help the Matadors build a 46-28 halftime lead.
The performance was sorely needed from Minor, a sophomore from Canyon High who was suspended for two games last week and missed another game recently with an injury.
“I don’t know where my shot’s been but all of a sudden it got me on a roll,” he said.
The big cushion was especially comforting when Northridge post players Jabari Simmons, Jeff Parris and Kevin Taylor picked up their fourth fouls early in the second half.
Guards Mike O’Quinn, Lucky Grundy and Trenton Cross, who played tireless defense throughout, stepped up their offense and Northridge extended its lead to as many as 27 points late in the game.
O’Quinn had 14 points and nine rebounds, Grundy had 12 points and four assists, and Cross had 12 points.
Simmons, who was upbeat and animated throughout the game, even laughing and clapping after a teammate made a play, had 14 points and seven rebounds.
“One reason we went to the full-court press was to get our guys emotions going early,” Braswell said. “We got after it right from the beginning and never let up.”
