Matadors Beaten by the Bomb

Cal State Northridge fell victim to Montana State’s long-range shooters Friday night as the Bobcats handed the Matadors their third loss in a row, 87-82, in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game.

Danny Sprinkle and John Lazosky combined for nine three-point baskets and 43 points to help the Bobcats (8-7, 2-2) break a two-game losing streak. Montana State is 8-0 at home this season. Sprinkle had 22 points.

The score was tied seven times in the first half, Northridge (9-8, 1-4) pounding the ball inside to Jeffrey Parris and Rico Harris and Montana State scoring from the perimeter.

“We knew they could all the shoot the ball,” Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell said of Montana State. “We just didn’t come out in the first half with the intensity we needed.”

Northridge pulled to within 78-75 on Derrick Higgins’ dunk with 1:27 to play.

Lazosky hit his fifth three-pointer as time expired on the shot clock with 49 seconds left, and the Matadors were forced to foul. Montana State made all four of its free throws in the last 38 seconds.

Northridge shot nearly 50% from the field, but made only seven of 16 free throws.

“It’s frustrating,” Braswell said. “You’re not going to beat many people like that.”

Higgins scored 19 points and Greg Minor added 16.