Northridge in Position for a Changing of the Guard

Cal State Northridge, heir apparent to the Big Sky Conference throne, will take the floor tonight against the Big Sky’s most successful team over the years.

Northridge (20-9) will play Weber State (15-13) in a semifinal tonight at 8:30 when the Big Sky tournament resumes at Northridge.

The Matadors, trying to advance to their first NCAA tournament, were 2-0 this season against the Wildcats, who defeated Idaho State, 86-67, in a quarterfinal Thursday.

Weber State, making its 25th tournament appearance, was conference champion in 1998 and pulled of a first-round upset of North Carolina in the NCAA tournament.

The Wildcats have advanced to the NCAA tournament 12 times, most of any Big Sky team.

But that was then. Northridge has defeated the Wildcats in three of four meetings, including last season’s conference tournament, 73-68. Weber State finished sixth this season and was 4-6 against the tournament field.

Center Brian Heinle of Northridge, the Big Sky’s scoring and rebounding leader, had 55 points and 22 rebounds in two games against Weber State. Heinle was selected Big Sky player of the year.

If the Wildcats want to reverse the trend, it starts with stopping Heinle, Coach Joe Cravens said.

“We weren’t the only team Heinle had two good games against,” Cravens said. “He is just a good player. To me, there was no vote as to who the MVP of the league is. I don’t know what we can do to stop him. We’re going to have to get out and guard him a little bit.”

The Matadors’ depth, a big reason for their success this season, showed against Weber State.

Guard John Burrell had 28 points off the bench in an 89-78 victory at Ogden, Utah. Heinle also had 28. Heinle had 25 points as six players scored in double figures for the Matadors in a 96-86 victory at Northridge.

Predicted to finish first, Northridge, at 13-3, did so by two games over second-place Eastern Washington. The Matadors have won nine of their last 10 games, including five in a row.

“Our coaching staff was getting ready for three teams,” Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell said. “We’ll be ready [for Weber State]. We’ve been in their position before, being the underdog.”

Guard Jermaine Boyette of Weber State had 24 points Thursday against Idaho State. He set a tournament record by making all 10 shots from the field.

Boyette, a sophomore who sat out the first five games of the season for playing in five illegal city recreational games last year, also had six assists.

Northridge can advance to the tournament final for the second consecutive season. The Matadors lost in overtime to Northern Arizona, 85-81, in last season’s final at Montana.

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In the other Big Sky tournament game Thursday, Cory Schwab scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half to help Northern Arizona (15-13) overcome a seven-point halftime deficit in a 65-62 victory over Montana State (16-14).

Ryan McDade had 17 points for Northern Arizona, which plays No. 2-seeded Eastern Washington (16-10) tonight.