Weber State Toes Line and Braswell Gets Boot

More than the Big Sky Conference basketball race heated up this weekend, as far as Cal State Northridge is concerned.

Northridge remained in the thick of things, despite a 113-92 loss to Weber State before 4,428 Saturday night at Dee Events Center. But the Matadors (13-6, 5-3 in conference play) left the arena hot, having squandered a first-half lead and blown a chance to move into sole possession of first place.

Most enraged was Coach Bobby Braswell, who in the second half was ejected for the first time in his career only minutes after being assessed his first technical foul in two seasons.

After, Braswell was cautious with his words.

“I don’t want to get suspended,” Braswell said. “I was frustrated, you can say that.”

The second half began with Northridge ahead, 40-37, but that shifted dramatically. The Wildcats launched a 21-7 run by marching to the free-throw line.

Weber State (13-6, 5-3) shot 53 free throws--making 44--to the Matadors’ 21. Two of the Wildcats’ free throws came after Braswell was whistled for a technical after walking onto the floor in protest with Northridge trailing, 81-66.

With three minutes to play, Braswell was headed to the showers after a bit of ball handling.

After snaring an errant pass in front of the Northridge bench, Braswell rolled the ball the length of the floor in the direction of referee Brent Smith.

Smith scooped up the ball and immediately bounced Braswell--much to the delight of a crowd that jeered him as he left.

“I don’t think it’s ever appropriate to get thrown out of a game, but I did what I felt I had to do,” Braswell said. “I guess it gets discouraging when you play good defense and this happens.”

Weber State, defending Big Sky champion, avoided a third consecutive loss on its home floor and remained in a second-place tie with Northridge, a half game behind Eastern Washington (5-2).

The Wildcats lost Friday night to Northern Arizona, 76-66, and forward Harold Arceneaux suffered a sprained ankle.

Arceneaux, Big Sky most valuable player last season, returned to score 36 points, including 14 of free throws. Guard Eddie Gill had 29 points, including 13 of 14 free throws.

Brian Heinle, who scored a career-high 34 points for Northridge, made eight of 10 free throws. Heinle, Jeff Parris and Lionel Benjamin fouled out in the second half for Northridge.

Braswell, his words flavored with sarcasm, found those statistics difficult to accept.

“They shot 53 free throws to our 21,” Braswell said. “That’s interesting. We had three guys foul out. That’s interesting. Arceneaux shot 16 free throws. That’s interesting. Gill shot 14 free throws. That’s interesting.”

Heinle said Braswell “was trying to light a fire under us. Coach is going to do what he is going to do. He was more mad at us than the officials. He wouldn’t have been so upset if we would have fought to get back in the game.

“We knew we were going to be in a fight. I don’t know how it got away from us. I’m not exactly sure what their runs were but we played a terrible half.”

Northridge was hurt by the absence of forward Andre Larry, who quit the team this week for personal reasons.

Foul trouble for forwards Parris and Hewitt Rolle, who had four, spelled trouble for Northridge.

“Without Andre Larry, we can’t compete with Jeff Parris having three fouls and sitting,” Braswell said. “We ended up having to play people in different positions and it wasn’t a good mix.”