SOUTHLAND ROUNDUP

Cal State Northridge 72, Sacramento State 64--The road remains an uphill climb, but for the first time this season the Matadors (6-9, 2-3) left someone else’s court with a victory.

Sluggish and bumbling most of the way, Northridge resorted to a rare zone defense in the last eight minutes and put away hapless Sacramento State (1-12, 0-3) in Big Sky play before 864 at Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento.

“A Picasso it wasn’t,” Coach Bobby Braswell said, “but we’ll take them any way we can get them.”

It took a late surge, however, to end their road losing streak at seven.

Not until Carl Holmes scored off an offensive rebound to make the score 55-54 with eight minutes to play did Northridge lead in the second half.

Mike O’Quinn hit a three-pointer a minute later for a four-point lead, and Sacramento never got closer.

O’Quinn and Holmes led Northridge with 15 points apiece.