Matadors Can Make Points With Anyone

It is increasingly becoming apparent that Cal State Northridge belongs on the same basketball court with just about anyone.

Northridge fell to USC, 99-90, on Tuesday night at the Sports Arena, failing to complete a season sweep of the Trojans and UCLA that would have shaken Southern California like you know what.

The Matadors (4-3), after splitting two games in the Marquette tournament, stayed with the 12th-ranked Trojans (5-0), leading at the half and throughout much of the game and refusing to fold when momentum turned. But such has been the case with Northridge in this breakthrough season.

Northridge’s three losses have been by a combined 13 points and the Matadors have not trailed by more than 11 points. Poised and polished against both established basketball neighbors, unsung Northridge suddenly is a tough game.

“They are very confident with what they do,” USC Coach Henry Bibby said. “They’re a very good basketball team and they’re going to win a lot of games.”

No longer content to contend, Northridge, picked to win the Big Sky Conference and advance to its first NCAA tournament, expects more.

“We’re not satisfied with playing a top 25 team,” said guard John Burrell, who led Northridge with 21 points against USC. “It’s about pulling out these games.”

Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell chalked up the defeat to experience.

“When you play against a team with better athletes, you gotta do the basics,” Braswell said.

Northridge plays Wyoming (4-0) at home Thursday night, then takes an 11-day break before playing at James Madison. Northridge enters the Nike Festival at Hawaii on Dec. 21 against Alabama-Birmingham.

The break is welcomed.

“We’ve had a killer schedule,” Braswell said. “It will be nice to have a break. The guys will be taking finals.”

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Jermar Welch’s numbers against USC weren’t much to shout about: Two points and four rebounds.

But it beats Welch’s last visit to the Sports Arena.

“Much better,” Welch said.

Welch tore ligaments in his left hand while making a dunk against the Trojans in last season’s opener. Welch, a 6-foot-7 senior forward, was sidelined most of the season, appearing in only eight games.

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Center Dan Read received a technical foul against USC with eight minutes to play and Northridge trailing, 76-73.

That resulted in every player running sprints during practice Wednesday, a longtime Braswell edict.

“That’s something [the players] know I don’t tolerate,” Braswell said.

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The Northridge women’s team (2-4), off to a slow start, will have a tough challenge Saturday against San Diego (2-1), which has victories over Long Beach State and UCLA.

Center Kristi Rose leads Northridge in scoring, averaging 14.3 points, but production has also come from the bench. Sha’Tasha Allen, a junior forward and transfer from College of the Canyons, is averaging 12.4 points and 23 minutes. Allen’s 19 points against Cal State Fullerton is a Matador season high.