Northridge Takes Best Shot, 101-86

Numbers told the story in Cal State Northridge’s 101-86 Big Sky Conference victory over Idaho State before 3,562 Saturday night at Holt Arena.

Incredible numbers they were.

Northridge (10-3, 2-0 in conference play) breezed to its eighth victory in nine games while blowing away the Bengals with eye-popping shooting statistics.

The Matadors connected on 32 of 48 (66.7%) of their shots, including 17 of their first 21.

Northridge made 75% of its shots in the first half while building a 56-42 lead.

As usual, Northridge capitalized on its aggressive inside game. But the Matadors were equally lethal from three-point range, sinking 11 of 17 (64.7%), including eight of 10 in the first half.

Guard Marco McCain scored 19 points for the Matadors, including three three-point baskets the first half.

Even reserve guard Lionel Benjamin got into the act by recording his first field goal as a Matador.

“That’s the most unselfish display I’ve seen this year--in a long time,” Coach Bobby Braswell of Northridge said. “They really stepped out on the floor. They don’t care who scores.”

The only Northridge player who didn’t score was guard Denny Ogden, who held the ball at midcourt at the final buzzer. Ogden took a glance at the basket and smiled but did not shoot.

The damage was done.

“I don’t think any team has ever lit us up like that,” said Coach Doug Oliver of Idaho State (5-8, 0-2).

For Northridge, which shot a dismal 37.3% in a 69-66 victory Thursday over Northern Arizona, the victory was its first 100-point performance since a 104-98 victory over Eastern Washington in 1998.

More important to the Matadors was earning a victory in their first conference road game, another indication they are a team with which to be reckoned.

Oliver tabbed Northridge the team to beat.

“If they keep playing they way they did [Saturday night], they’re going to be hard to stop,” Oliver said. “There’s no question they have the best talent in the conference from [players] one through eight or nine.”

Forward Jeff Parris scored 18 points and center Brian Heinle added 17. Guard Markus Carr had 16 points and forwards Andre Larry and Hewitt Rolle each scored 10.

Heinle made seven of 11 shots but no other Matador missed more than two shots.

McCain was five of seven, including three of five from beyond three-point range.

“You saw the real Marco McCain,” Braswell said. “That’s why we recruited him.”

Braswell was so pleased, he found it difficult to find fault.

“I always try to find things negative to rip them about,” Braswell said. “It’s getting hard. But this is just the second game of conference. We still have room for improvement.”

Carr, who had six assists, attributed the Matadors surge this season to balance.

“We play unselfishly,” Carr said. “When we play together as a team, we’re difficult to stop. We had a good practice [Friday] and it carried over. We talked to each other about it. Everybody knows we needed to crack down, especially in conference.”

Larry and McCain each had three three-pointers in the first half and Heinle had two.

Larry and Parris fouled out late in the game. For Parris, it was the eighth time this season he fouled out.

“I’m an aggressive player and I get some close calls,” Parris said. “I play best when I play hard.”

The Bengals capped a forgettable week in which they lost three games at home while allowing 35 three-pointers, including a 55-foot basket at the buzzer in a 70-69 loss to Eastern Washington.