Northridge Fails Its Latest Test

Cal State Northridge wanted this game, needed this game, to show it had arrived as a player in the Big West Conference.

What Northridge came up with was its meekest offensive showing in almost nine years and, not surprisingly, a 59-44 loss to Utah State in a conference opener before 1,283 fans Thursday at Northridge.

The offensive output was the Matadors’ worst in Coach Bobby Braswell’s seven years and lowest since an 80-43 loss at Alabama-Birmingham on Feb. 27, 1994, a span of 214 games. The point total tied for eighth lowest since the Northridge program began in 1958.

Ian Boylan, the Matadors’ leading scorer, missed all seven of his shots and finished with one point. Northridge made only 14 of 46 shots (30.4%) and were three of 18 (16.7%) from three-point range.

The Matadors (6-5, 0-1 in Big West play) have lost three consecutive games, erasing any momentum from what had been a five-game winning streak.

“At some time during that five-game [winning] streak, our guys got complacent,” Braswell said. “We need to get a toughness about us and we need to turn this thing around.”

Curtis Slaughter was the only Northridge player in double figures, scoring 13 points on four-of-13 shooting. Cardell Butler scored 17 points and Ronnie Ross added 14 for Utah State (10-2, 1-0), which has won five consecutive games, including a 59-54 victory over Utah.

-- Mike Bresnahan

UC Santa Barbara 65, UC Riverside 49 -- Playing without injured leading scorer Branduinn Fullove, the host Gauchos ended a five-game losing streak in the Big West Conference opener for both teams.

Mark Hull had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Josh Davis had 14 points and Nick Jones added 13 points, four rebounds and three steals for the Gauchos (4-7).

For Riverside (1-6), which lost its fourth in a row, Kevin Butler had 13 points and Nate Carter had 11.

-- Lauren Peterson

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 65, Cal State Fullerton 44 -- The Mustangs had five players in double figures and used an 18-0 run in the second half to beat the undermanned Titans at San Luis Obispo.

Cal Poly (5-5) was led by Shane Schilling’s 18 points and 17 rebounds. Steve Geary, Phillip Johnson and Varnie Dennis had 11 points apiece and Jason Allen added 10. Fullerton (2-9) played only seven players.

Brigham Young 84, Pepperdine 68 -- Rafael Araujo had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Cougars (10-2), who are 6-0 this season at home and extended the nation’s longest home winning streak to 42 games.

Jimmy Miggins had 16 points and Alex Acker had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Waves (8-5), who shot 35 percent.