This Time, Matadors Keep Their Cool

Cool and calm. That was Cal State Northridge during a 79-77 victory over Idaho State on Monday night, despite blowing a 13-point halftime lead.

“Composure was the key word we talked about,” Coach Bobby Braswell said. “After what went on [against Northern Arizona], we didn’t want to lose composure.”

The approach was a contrast from the 96-79 overtime loss at Northern Arizona on Saturday night, when the Matadors were whistled for two technical fouls and answered back to courtside hecklers.

The emotion underscored a rapidly developing rivalry with the Lumberjacks, who are two-time defending Big Sky Conference champions.

Northridge is the last team to defeat Northern Arizona at the Walkup Skydome and have twice pushed the Lumberjacks to overtime in losses during a 20-game home winning streak.

“Northridge is a force to be reckoned with and seems to play very well up here,” Northern Arizona Coach Ben Howland said.

And rough as well. Matador center Brian Heinle slammed Lumberjack point guard Kawika Akina to the floor as Akina put up a fast-break layup with 10:14 to play. Heinle drew a technical foul.

To the Matadors’ credit, they continued to cut a deficit that was 61-48 after three of four free throws were made. Northridge went on a 27-14 run to tie the score at the end of regulation.

*

The attendance at Northridge nonconference games averaged 4,627, which is close to the school record of 5,056 set in 1995-96, Pete Cassidy’s last season as coach.

But the number should steadily decline. With Big Sky Conference games come more home games--and fewer fans in the stands.

Similar to the figure three years ago, the increased attendance is a result of games on the road. Northridge averaged about 7,000 fans at four tournament games at Hawaii and Brigham Young, and the biggest crowds were at Tennesse (13,492) and UCLA (8,594).

Including the 575 who attended Monday night’s game against Idaho State, the Matadors average only 665 at home, below last season’s average of 858.

The poor attendance Monday could be blamed partially on the conflict with the Fiesta Bowl.

But the trend bothers Braswell, who commented on it after only 631 showed up for a home game against James Madison, a game Northridge won, 77-64.

“It is disappointing that as well as we are playing, we aren’t getting more support,” he said.

*

The Palmdale High cheerleading squad performed a routine at halftime, and although it was a long drive from Northridge, it wasn’t a stretch. Northridge point guard Markus Carr, a redshirt freshman, is a former Palmdale star, as is Edniesha Curry, the All-American guard on the Matador women’s team.