Northridge Reclaims Share of First in Big Sky

Cal State Northridge appeared dead. Even Coach Bobby Braswell walked out on the Matadors.

But that helped to resurrect Northridge, which rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit and defeated first-place Montana State, 72-65, in a Big Sky Conference game before 5,566 Thursday night at Bozeman, Mont.

Northridge, 12-8 overall and 5-2 in the Big Sky, reclaimed a share of first after pulling off its biggest rally of the season and quieting a torrid-shooting Bobcat team that entered the game leading Division I in three-point shooting percentage.

“One of the TV guys said to me that we were like Lazarus,” Braswell said. “We were dead and we came back to life.”

Montana State (12-7, 4-2) made six of nine three-point shots and was 17 of 34 (50%) shooting before walking off the court with a 42-30 halftime lead.

After watching his team make only 12 of 34 shots (35.3%)--including three of 10 from three-point range--Braswell walked out of the locker room.

“I walked out on them and said, ‘I don’t know what to tell you guys,’ ” Braswell said. “It wasn’t a ploy on my part. It was the worst first half we had played all season. I chewed them a little and I was disgusted. Sometimes you have to challenge the players. This showed some character on our part. The second half was a complete turnaround.”

For both teams.

Led by center Brian Heinle, the Big Sky’s leading scorer, Northridge quickly moved within striking distance and used a 7-1 run to pull within 62-61 on Marco McCain’s three-point basket with 4:50 to play.

The Matadors moved ahead to stay, 67-65, on two free throws by Jeff Parris with 2:20 to play.

Meanwhile, Montana State went cold. The Bobcats were seven of 26 (26.9%) shooting in the second half and made only three of 15 from three-point range.

The Bobcats scored only three points in the final 6:02.

Northridge, which plays Saturday at Montana, is tied with Eastern Washington and Weber State at 5-2 in the conference.