Heinle, Burrell Receive Honors

Brian Heinle and John Burrell shared Big Sky Conference player-of-the-week honors after Cal State Northridge started Big Sky play with victories over Weber State and Cal State Sacramento.

Makes sense, considering they’ve been sharing the load.

Heinle and Burrell have run neck and neck while pacing the Matadors (9-6) to a 2-0 conference start entering Thursday’s game at Northern Arizona. Northridge and Montana State are tied for first.

Heinle and Burrell each scored 28 points against Weber State. Each scored 27 against Sacramento.

“Brian and John carried us,” Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell said after the Matadors won at Weber State for only the second time in 13 games.

Heinle, a senior center, leads the Big Sky in scoring, averaging 20.2 points. Burrell, a senior guard, ranks fourth, averaging 15.2 points.

Burrell came off the bench in both games last week and was on the mark. He shot 76.% (16 of 21) from the field, 71.4% (five of seven) from three-point range and 94.7% (18-19) on free throws.

“[The coaches] know I’m a scorer, so they keep putting the ball in my hands,” said Burrell, a transfer from Nevada.

Braswell considers Burrell, who led Nevada in scoring two years ago, among the best shooters he has coached.

“John Burrell is absolutely amazing,” Braswell said.