SOUTHLAND

Cal State Northridge, Montana State 63--There’s little room for home improvement by the Cal State Northridge basketball team. So far, anyway.

The Matadors ended a two-game losing streak Thursday the best way they know how--by playing at home--and ran their home record to 7-0 with a victory over Montana State before 1,029 at the Matadome.

Northridge (11-5, 3-2 in conference) pulled away in the second half of a close game, thanks to inspired play by Andre Larry and increased intensity beneath the basket.

Larry, a senior forward, scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, including nine during a pivotal 12-2 run that enabled the Matadors to take a 58-48 lead with nine minutes to play.

Northridge, which lost road games last week at Portland State and Eastern Washington, appeared in danger of dropping a third consecutive game against the smaller Bobcats (10-7, 2-2).

Trailing, 36-34, at the half, Montana State twice pulled even and twice took one-point leads early in the second half.

Before the Larry-led charge, Northridge missed consecutive three-point attempts by Markus Carr, Marco McCain and Brian Heinle. Northridge made only three of 15 from three-point range, including two of nine in the first half.

Equally disturbing to Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell was the Bobcats’ 23- 13 edge in rebounds after one half.

“I was a little vocal at halftime about those statistics,” he said. “No way in conference can you give an opponent second or third shots like we did.”

Larry was perturbed with his own performance. Ordinarily a starter, Larry began the game on the bench as punishment for arriving late to practice this week. Larry finished a lackluster first half with four points and no rebounds.

Larry’s final totals of 21 points and eight rebounds were game-highs.

“In the first half, I just wasn’t aggressive,” Larry said. “I was just standing around. I heard about some stats at halftime and I didn’t have anything. That gets to me when I’m not producing.”

The victory earned the Matadors, many of whom were members of last year’s team, a measure of revenge against Montana State. The Bobcats defeated Northridge, 91-90, last season in the opening round of the Big Sky tournament.