Matadors Do Their Homework

NORTHRIDGE —  It may be only the Matadome, but it’s home to Cal State Northridge.

And a difficult place for opponents to play.

Northridge, before a raucous 1,492, outlasted Wyoming, 74-71, in a game that featured 15 lead changes and countless narrowly missed baskets Thursday night.

Northridge (5-3), rebounding from consecutive losses to Marquette and USC, displayed its usual tenacity against a collectively larger foe, despite being out-rebounded by the Cowboys (4-1), 44-38.

The Matadors also reminded that they are tough at home.

Northridge was 12-1 at their cozy 1,600-seat arena last season. Northridge hasn’t lost a nonconference home game since December 1996.

Ever since the Matadors’ upset of UCLA at Pauley Pavilion two weeks ago, the Matadome has been besieged by so-called “Mata-maniacs,” a psyched-up student body suddenly overflowing with enthusiasm.

“We can’t help it if our gym is small,” said guard Markus Carr, who tied a school-record with 15 assists. “But we’re trying to get that little gym rockin’. It’s not quite like Duke, but, man, it was rowdy in there [Thursday night].”

Carr’s breakaway layup with four minutes to play gave Northridge the lead for good, 71-69.

Forward Jeff Parris, as he did Tuesday against USC, picked up his third and fourth fouls in the first two minutes of the second half and headed for the bench. However, Parris was tough down the stretch, scoring six of his 10 points in the final five minutes.

Parris’ free throw with 1:13 to play gave the Matadors a 72-69 lead. With 50 seconds to play, Josh Davis of Wyoming was whistled for an offensive foul, all but ending the Cowboys’ hopes.

Northridge beat Wyoming for the first time in three tries. The Cowboys tied for fourth last season in the Mountain West Conference. It was the Matadors’ fifth game this season decided by four points or fewer.

“The best thing I can describe it is, we pulled it out,” Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell said. “Game after game, it’s been close and tight.”

That’s where the crowd came in. Several supporters donned costumes and most of the crowd was on its feet during crucial moments.

“That’s what happens when you’re winning,” center Brian Heinle said. “At the end of last season, we knew we were getting a lot more people. But now, it seems like we’re getting more students and more student-athletes.”

Heinle was among five Northridge players in double figures, leading the Matadors with 17 points and seven rebounds.

Heinle was two of five on three-point attempts but scored the majority of his points on post moves.

Heinle missed a handful of inside baskets when the ball rolled off the rim.

“That’s just the way it bounces sometimes,” Heinle said.

Heinle took the helm early, giving Northridge an 11-8 lead by scoring five consecutive points on a dunk and three-pointer.

The Cowboys never led by more than two points until Marcus Bailey’s basket gave them a 64-60 lead with seven minutes to play.