Northridge Cruises; Playoffs Next

The most-important Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game of the season was being played on Saturday 600 miles from Sacramento, where Cal State Northridge was blasting Cal State Sacramento, 99-65, in a regular-season finale.

Meanwhile at Ogden, Utah, Weber State defeated Northern Arizona, 77-57, to win the championship and earn the right to host the Big Sky tournament.

Northridge (17-11, 9-6 in conference play) won eight of its last 11 games. The Matadors are seeded fourth in the six-team tournament and will play Montana State on Thursday in the first round.

At Sacramento’s Memorial Auditorium, an ornate 75-year-old historic landmark with an art-deco ceiling and enormous chandeliers hanging over the court, Northridge provided plenty of theater for the crowd of 1,463.

The Matadors shot 64%, made 10 of 19 three-point attempts, had 16 steals, a school-record 11 dunks and nearly scored 100 points for the first time this season.

It was their largest margin of victory on the road since 1988.

Unlike the 17-point loss at Weber State on Thursday night, Northridge did not miss Rico Harris and Greg Minor, who were suspended for poor conduct but accompanied the team on the trip.

Coach Bobby Braswell will meet with them Monday and determine whether they will rejoin the team.

“The other players will have a role in that decision,” Braswell said.

“The team morale has never been better and we feel we have to stay that way.”

Derrick Higgins, the captain and only senior, said Harris and Minor will be welcome if they are willing to put 100% into the team.

“If they come back, they are going to have to catch up with the rest of us because we are zooming into this tournament,” Higgins said.

Several players whose playing time increased because of the absence of Harris, a forward-center, and Minor, who plays both guard positions, made good use of the extra minutes.

Forward Andre Larry made seven of 11 shots, scored 15 points and had five steals and four assists. Forward Hewitt Rolle had five rebounds, forward Jeff Parris made his four shots and center Brian Heinle scored 16 points and made two three-point shots.

Guard Jason Crowe made seven of nine shots, scored 17 points and had five steals in 30 minutes. Point guard Markus Carr made his three shots, his two free throws and had three steals. Guard Carl Holmes made two three-point baskets.

Northridge led, 53-31, at halftime and extended the margin to 81-49 with 9:00 to play.

Six different players made three-point shots and the Matadors had 19 assists and only 17 turnovers.

The Matadors led comfortably throughout and blew the game open with about 4:00 left in the first half.

After a three-point play by Higgins made the score 40-23, Crowe made two steals in a row. The first lead to a layup by Larry and the second Crowe finished himself with a dunk.

Larry made a steal and a dunk seconds later and Northridge led, 46-23. Sacramento (3-23, 3-13) committed turnovers on nine of its last 14 possessions of the half.