Win Streak Bookended by Matadors

Cal State Northridge finished what it started, employing an unusual routine and uncommon composure to snap an oddball streak.

The Matadors handed Portland State its first home loss in more than two years, 88-79, in a Big Sky Conference game squeezed in Saturday at the Rose Garden between Portland TrailBlazer dates Friday and Saturday nights.

The Vikings had won 21 home games in a row, including their last 15 in conference play, a streak that began with a victory over Northridge in the Big Sky opener last season.

This was Portland State’s last home game of the season and the Vikings were one victory from a second consecutive 8-0 Big Sky home record, remarkable because their average attendance is only 1,600 and “home” is three venues.

The streak consisted of seven victories each at Memorial Coliseum, Stott Center and the Rose Garden.

But the 2,233 who enjoyed plenty of elbow room in the cavernous arena were shocked by Northridge (16-10, 8-6 in conference play), which scored 20 of the last 23 points to erase an eight-point deficit with 6:21 to play.

“We started their streak and we wanted to be the ones who ended it,” Coach Bobby Braswell said.

After a one-point loss at Eastern Washington on Thursday night, the Matadors did not practice Friday except for a walk-through at 10 p.m. in the ballroom of their hotel.

Braswell asked Portland State officials for somewhere to practice, but with the TrailBlazers playing Friday night, he was told in effect, “I beg your pardon, we never promised you the Rose Garden.”

The day off appeared to refresh the Matadors, who played with intensity and emotion. Northridge held a 42-27 advantage on the boards, with eight players collecting from four to six rebounds.

“Rebounding that well is an indication that we were focused,” Braswell said.

There was only one letup. After leading for the first 31 minutes, Northridge was hit by a 24-5 run by Portland State that enabled the Vikings (16-8, 9-5) to seize a 76-68 lead.

But Derrick Higgins and Jeff Parris went to work inside and Northridge came back.

“They had their run and I knew we would come back with one of our own,” said Higgins, who scored a career-high 27 points, making 12 of 15 free throws.

Brian Heinle, Parris and Andre Larry each added 14 points for Northridge, which clinched a berth in the Big Sky tournament with the victory.

Jason Hartman, a senior from Thousand Oaks High and the leading scorer in the conference, scored 27 points for the Vikings.

The game was particularly significant for Heinle, who played at the Rose Garden for the Oregon state high school championship in 1997.

Along with teammates Jason Crowe and Larry, he watched the TrailBlazers defeat the Boston Celtics on Friday night, bringing back memories.

“Bad memories,” Heinle said. “We lost the [high school] final by blowing an 11-point lead with five minutes left.

“This time, I came here to win.”