SOUTHLAND ROUNDUP
Cal State Northridge 73, San Diego 65--Northridge used constant defensive pressure to wear down the Toreros in the Matadors’ home opener.
The game featured 21 lead changes. A layup by Jeff Knoll with 11:40 to play was the Toreros’ last field goal until 48.5 seconds remained in the game.
“We’ve been a finesse team, but tonight we battled and banged them,” Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell said. “Our pressure wore them down. They didn’t have a full tank of gas at the end.”
The Matadors scored 28 points off 25 San Diego turnovers. And Northridge (2-2) had fuel to burn, outscoring the Toreros, 22-9, in the last 11 minutes.
Markus Carr played a team- high 35 minutes and scored 15 points on five-of-eight shooting. He also had five of Northridge’s 15 steals.
“Defense got us going in the second half,” Carr said.
After being pushed around in losses to Tennessee and San Jose State, Northridge’s interior players were more aggressive. Center Brian Heinle scored a career-high 19 points, forward Andre Larry scored 12 and Rico Harris had 10.
Ryan Williams scored 16 points for San Diego (2-2).
Go beyond the scoreboard
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