AREA COLLEGE NOTEBOOK

A Big Sky Conference title seemed within Cal State Northridge’s men’s basketball team’s grasp a month ago. Now, it seems like a long shot.

At least, the going is certain to get tougher without forward Andre Larry, who quit the team this week for personal reasons. Without Larry, Northridge relied heavily on long-distance shooting in a 76-57 Big Sky victory Thursday night at Cal State Sacramento.

That might become the Matadors’ strategy for the rest of the season.

Larry, a 6-9 senior averaging 13.9 points and 5.1 rebounds, is a team leader, if not the Matadors’ best player, and his contributions inside will be missed.

Northridge (13-5, 5-2 in conference play) will face a tough task tonight against defending champion Weber State.

“Right now, we’ve just got to focus on what’s ahead,” center Brian Heinle said.

Larry, a transfer from Oregon, informed Coach Bobby Braswell on Tuesday he was leaving the team. Braswell said Larry requested that the circumstances of his departure remain confidential.

“Losing a big 6-9 guy who grabs a lot of rebounds is difficult,” Braswell said.

Marco McCain filled the void against Sacramento by sinking a career-high six three-point baskets. Northridge had a season-high 12 in the game.

Carl Holmes had three three-pointers. Heinle, Jeff Parris and Denny Ogden each had one.

McCain’s shooting touch from long range is impressive and he has increased his shots as the season has progressed. McCain, a transfer from Cerritos College, made only five of his first 29 three-point shots but has made 14 of 28 in the last six games.

From here, McCain might have a green light.

“I feel it every game,” McCain said Thursday. “They’re just not always falling like they did tonight.”

Northridge must contend with one of the best players on its schedule, Harold Arceneaux of Weber State, a 6-6 senior who was most valuable player of the Big Sky Conference last season.

Arceneaux’s 36 points led the Wildcats to a first-round upset of North Carolina in the opening round of the NCAA tournament last year.

Arceneaux is averaging 19.5 points, 25 in the last eight games.