[0] CSUN AWAKENS IN TIME - AGAIN CSUN 96, WEBER ST. 86.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

It was so typical: Cal State Northridge was trailing at halftime.

Not like it was a news flash or anything. That's just the way this basketball team seems to operate. The Matadors always seem to dig themselves a hole in the game's first 20 minutes. But not to worry.

Their typical reaction is to dig themselves right out of it.

CSUN made a customary second-half comeback after an eight-point deficit in the first half to beat Weber State 96-86 Thursday at the Northridge gym in front of a season-high crowd of 1,519.

The Matadors (15-8) are by themselves in first place in the Big Sky Conference by 1 1/2 games at 8-2. Weber State (12-7) fell to second at 6-3. CSUN won its fourth consecutive game and sixth of its past seven.

``(The Big Sky) is definitely ours to lose,'' guard Markus Carr said. ``We just have to continue to do what we need to get better.''

That meant playing better defense in the first half. CSUN trailed by six, 46-40, at halftime. The Matadors found themselves in the same predicament in an 89-78 win at Weber State in the Big Sky opener. Only they trailed by as many as 10 in that game.

``We don't like to do it that way,'' senior center Brian Heinle said. ``We definitely don't plan to do it that way. Us being the team we are, people are going to get pumped up for us and play their best game right away.''

Heinle was pumped to play as well, getting his 12th double-double of the season with 25 points and 13 rebounds. The Matadors had 18 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Wildcats 46-32. Six players scored in double figures for CSUN, including Markus Carr with 16 and Jeff Parris with 15.

Down 66-65, CSUN went on a 14-6 run to take a 79-72 lead with 7 1/2 minutes left. The Matadors never lost that lead and extended it to nine points at 85-76 with just under five minutes left.

Weber State pulled within five at 85-80 when Heinle took a charge - which had Weber State coach Joe Cravens in a frenzy - by Jermaine Boyette. He made a layup but officials waved off the basket. Heinle got his own miss and scored on a putback to put CSUN up 87-80 with 2 1/2 minutes left.

Boyette, a sophomore guard, had 14 points and eight assists and Steve Morrison had a surprising team-high 18 points. Morrison made 8 of 13 shots.

CSUN won the first meeting 89-78 in Ogden, Utah. John Burrell and Heinle each had 28 points in that game. Heinle continued Thursday night to dominate Weber State's solid frontcourt. But sluggish defensive play and poor free-throw shooting kept Weber State in it early. CSUN made just 14 of 22 free throws in the first half.

The Matadors committed 10 first-half turnovers and were sluggish on the defensive end, allowing 46 first-half points. Weber State led 46-40 at halftime.

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Photo: (color) Cal State Northridge's Carl Holmes drives on Weber State's Damon King.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News