SOUTHLAND

Cal State Northridge 70, Pacific 59--The Matadors built and lost a 19-point advantage, but regained the lead and hung on down the stretch for a Big West Conference victory in front of 1,082 at Northridge.

Ian Boylan, who had not scored in his last two games and had made only one of 14 shots from the floor in his last three, led Northridge (3-9, 2-1) with 15 points and seven rebounds. Markus Carr added 11 points, eight steals and five assists, and Jermar Welch and Curtis Slaughter each had 10 points.

Slaughter, Carr and Lionel Benjamin (nine points) helped stake the Matadors to their biggest leads since a 101-47 victory over Dominican in the second game of the season by sparking a 19-0 run that turned an 18-17 deficit into a 36-18 advantage near the end of the half.

Bothered by Northridge’s full-court press, Pacific (9-4, 1-2) did not score for nearly eight minutes before Mike Preston hit two free throws to end the half.

After Northridge’s lead was stretched to 39-20 early in the second half, the Tigers closed to within 13 points at 43-30, then used a 27-12 spurt that included eight consecutive baskets from three-point range to take a 57-55 lead.

Northridge’s Ed Estavan responded with a three-pointer of his own and the Matadors took the lead for good with 5:58 to go.