Northridge Turns the Tables

Ian Boylan remembers the embarrassment against Howard last year -- an awful loss on a drab, rainy November night in Washington where nothing went right for Cal State Northridge in the lowest point of a disappointing season.

A year later, a year wiser, on a team with a better outlook, Boylan scored 23 points and Northridge defeated Howard, 101-80, in a nonconference men’s basketball game Sunday before 1,008 at Northridge.

After losing to Howard last season by 34 points, easily the worst loss in Coach Bobby Braswell’s seven years at Northridge, the Matadors put away the Bison early, leading by as many as 24 in the first half before coasting the rest of the way.

“Remembering what happened last year and what could happen if we didn’t come to play stayed in my mind,” said Boylan, a sophomore swingman who made nine of 12 shots.

As if the Matadors needed a reminder, Braswell showed the team what he called a five-minute “lowlight” video from last year’s game after Saturday’s practice.

“It was hard watching it,” said senior forward Lionel Benjamin, who had 13 points. “All the turnovers, all the missed rebounds, all their put-backs.

“I thought we were done [with practice] and then they popped this tape in and all heads went down.”

The victory was another good sign for the Matadors (2-2), who trailed No. 9 Oregon by two points with two minutes to play Nov. 25 before losing, 86-77.

The Matadors have already bettered last year’s 1-7 start, which turned into a disappointing 12-16 season a year after their first appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Kyle Williams had 21 points for Howard (1-2).

-- Mike Bresnahan