CSUN Beats CLC, 66-63, as Shooters Finally Relax

It had become apparent after its first three games that the Cal State Northridge basketball team was suffering from an early-season shooting slump. Even worse, the Matadors were having trouble getting a shot off at all.

Against Wyoming, Colorado State and Hastings, CSUN averaged 20 turnovers per game. When Northridge players did get a shot up, they were making only 40%, hitting 63 of 157 shots.

From the free-throw line, the Matadors were shooting 58%. Bricks and air balls were flying all over.

Said Coach Pete Cassidy: “It could be that they are just not relaxed.”

Tuesday night, the Matadors loosened up just enough against Cal Lutheran College, beating the Kingsmen, 66-63.

It was the 13th win for Northridge in 13 games against CLC.

“We shot well in the first half,” Cassidy said. “But we tightened up in the second half. We still need to get used to the offense. Once we do, we’ll get better shots off. We maintained our poise, though. We didn’t panic.”

Well, sort of.

After shooting 60% in the first half, the Matadors dropped to 18% in the second.

It was the Kingsmen who heated up in the final 20 minutes, hitting consistently from outside, with forward Lionel Boyce and center Steve Cotner doing damage inside.

After falling behind, 41-34, at the half, CLC got some timely shooting from guard Steve Delaveaga. His 15-foot jumper with 13:20 left cut CSUN’s lead to 49-44.

A three-point play by Matador Jimmy Daniels upped the lead to 52-44.

But, once again, the Kingsmen hit two long-range shots to close within 52-48 with just over 10 minutes left. They tied it at 54 with just over eight minutes left on guard Darren Ranck’s basket.

With the score 56-55 at the three-minute mark, Troy Dueker of Northridge sank a shot from in front of the basket.

CLC’s Jeff Wrout then hit a 20-foot shot from the right side to make it 58-57. After two missed CSUN shots, Boyce was fouled. Shooting one-and-one, Boyce banked in his first free throw, then hit another to give CLC its first lead of the night, 59-58, with two minutes left.

Drecksel got the lead back for CSUN, scoring from under the basket.

After a Cal Lutheran miss, the Matadors’ Pat Bolden was fouled. Bolden, who finished with eight points, hit two free throws to give CSUN a 62-59 lead.

But Ranck drilled a shot from the corner to draw to 62-61 with 28 seconds left. On the inbounds play, Paul Drecksel was fouled by Ranck. He made both free throws to put CSUN ahead, 64-61.

On the next trip down, Delaveaga missed and Drecksel rebounded. Dueker was fouled with 15 seconds left. The guard missed the front of a one-and-one.

Boyce hit a shot for CLC with seven seconds remaining, cutting the lead to one. After a CLC timeout, Drecksel was fouled. He made both free throws for a 66-63 advantage.

With three seconds left, CLC tried to lob a pass into the middle for a three-point play, but couldn’t score or draw a foul.

CSUN improved its record to 2-2. CLC is 2-3.