Northridge Handles Best of the Worst

On paper, Cal State Northridge is a better basketball team than Cal State Sacramento.

On the court, too.

Still, the Matadors had their hands full with scrappy Sacramento in a 95-82 Big Sky Conference victory before 1,131 on Saturday night at Hornet Gym.

Brian Heinle and John Burrell each scored 27 points, while Northridge (9-6, 2-0 in the Big Sky), favored to win the Big Sky, held off arguably the conference’s worst team.

Sacramento (3-9, 0-2) has not defeated Northridge in nine meetings since both joined the Big Sky in 1996.

The Hornets--3-13 in conference play last season--are 19-98 overall during the same stretch and rank last in the conference this season in scoring, rebounding and three-point shooting.

Yet, with the Matadors all but crowned conference champions, the Hornets, under first-year Coach Jerome Jenkins, had reason to be motivated.

“I don’t think we anticipated how good they were going to be,” guard Markus Carr of Northridge said. “They came out a lot better than they have in the past.”

Northridge hit nine of its first 10 shots. The Matadors built an 18-point first-half lead but struggled to maintain a double-digit advantage in the second half.

Sacramento cut the margin to nine points three times but couldn’t come closer.

“Everybody’s going to play their best game against us and we gotta be prepared for that,” Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell said.

“As a coach, you’re always worried about letdowns and taking teams for granted. But that’s what you get when you’re predicted winners. You have a target on your back.”

Braswell demonstrated his concern by being whistled for a technical foul late in the first half and the Matadors leading, 36-18.

Braswell charged onto the court, he said, in an effort to motivate his team.

“That was one of those [technical fouls] you get on purpose,” Braswell said.

Whether the Matadors needed the boost is debatable.

Heinle, recording his seventh double-double and fourth in five games, dominated inside, despite being the target of defenders.

Heinle had 12 rebounds and seven assists. He made 11 of 16 shots, including three three-pointers in as many tries.

“They played the best game I’ve seen them play,” Heinle said. “But we expect that.”

Burrell continued to produce off the bench, making eight of 11 shots and all nine of his free throws.

Heinle and Burrell each scored 28 points in an 89-78 victory Thursday night at Weber State.

Forward Jeff Parris had 24 points and nine rebounds against Sacramento and guard Marco McCain had 10 points.

“We don’t want to overlook anybody,” Burrell said. “If we continue to play to our level, we’ll be OK. These games are going to happen.”

Carr, who suffered a sprained left ankle against Weber State, left the game briefly in the second half because of a sprained right ankle.

Carl Holmes suffered a mild concussion colliding with a Sacramento player in the second half.

Pablo Gonzales had 25 points for Sacramento, hitting six of 11 three-pointers.

Northridge remained in a first-place tie with Montana State (2-0), an 82-75 winner Saturday over Portland State.

Northridge plays at Northern Arizona on Thursday in a rematch of last season’s Big Sky tournament final.