Cal State Northridge Wins in Overtime, 80-69

Cal State Northridge guards Brooklyn McLinn and James Morris didn’t play much of a role Saturday night until the last five minutes of regulation, when they made the difference in Northridge’s 80-69 overtime victory over Wisconsin Milwaukee.

McLinn made two free throws and two three-point baskets and his steal with 37 seconds to play set up the jump shot by Morris that tied the score 67-67 and sent the game into overtime.

Morris, who suffered a back injury when he slipped on a wet spot during halftime warmups, drove the lane and pulled up for an off-balance, eight-foot shot that went through the net as time expired.

“I was saying, pleeeease, let that shot go in,” Morris said.

Earlier, Morris sank two free throws to pull Nothridge within 67-65.

During the overtime, Keith Gibbs made four free throws and a three-point basket, McLinn and Andre Chevalier each sank two fouls shots and Brian Kilian made a dunk to counter a single basket by the Panthers (17-6).

Gibbs, who played despite a sprained right ankle, finished with 17 points and had six rebounds and six assists. McLinn, who was perfect from three-point range and the free-throw line, added 13 points and Morris scored 11.

Kilian grabbed a personal-best 13 rebounds and Shelton Boykin had nine rebounds to help Northridge outrebound the Panthers, 42-20.

The Matadors (9-15) surpassed last season’s victory total and Coach Pete Cassidy got his 299th.