[0] UCLA GETS CSUNBURN PARRIS LEADS MATADORS TO UPSET WIN AT PAULEY CSUN 78, UCLA 74.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

Pigs were spotted flying in Los Angeles on Tuesday night and all ski lifts were reported operating in Hades.

And why not? On a night when Cal State Northridge beats UCLA in basketball - men's basketball - what isn't possible?

The Matadors came into this season with grand ambitions, but rallying from a 13-point deficit for a 78-74 victory over 15th-ranked UCLA before a stunned crowd of 6,448 at Pauley Pavilion?

UCLA hasn't lost a nonconference home game to a Southland school in 15 years and while the Bruins have won 10 national championships, Cal State Northridge has never even been to the NIT. The Matadors had never even beaten a ranked team.

The greatest sporting achievement in the history of the school?

Perhaps, but don't call it a surprise.

``If they're shocked, it's a wakeup call for the rest of the country,'' said Matadors guard Marco McCain. ``We're that good of a team.''

They were on Tuesday, particularly 6-foot-5 forward Jeff Parris, who bulled his way through the UCLA defense for 27 points, and the Matadors alternating defense that befuddled UCLA most of the night.

UCLA turned the ball over 24 times and shot just 38.7 percent from the field in the second half, in which they were outscored by 11 points. Jason Kapono, the Bruins' best shooter, was a non-factor after making a pair of 3-pointers in the first six minutes. He finished 2 for 8 from the field with six points.

``They're a heckuva team,'' said UCLA coach Steve Lavin. ``I said yesterday I expect them to make the tournament and make noise in the tournament. Not to take anything away from Northridge, but we're disappointed with the way we played. When we're not hitting shots, we need to be able to grind out wins with our defense and we weren't able to do that tonight.''

The man the Bruins could not stop was Parris.

UCLA committed 10 fouls trying to guard him and just about everyone tried - T.J. Cummings, Matt Barnes, Ray Young and Billy Knight.

Parris' layin with 13:38 left to play put CSUN, which trailed by 13 points in the first half, ahead for good at 44-43. Center Brian Heinle made it 46-43 with a drive to the basket and after a UCLA timeout, Parris added two free throws and Heinle nailed an NBA-range 3-pointer to put the Matadors ahead, 51-42.

The Bruins (1-2) got as close as 62-60 after Ray Young hit a long 3-pointer and Barnes made two free throws with 3:28 left. But Parris, with UCLA trapping, drove past his man at midcourt and scored on a layin to put CSUN ahead 64-60.

After Young missed, the Matadors ran the shot clock down before point guard Markus Carr pulled up for a 25-footer from the top of the key to give CSUN a 67-60 lead with 2:25 left.

UCLA never got closer than five the rest of the way.

``There was no fear factor involved,'' Parris said. ``We figured if we could play as hard as we could and see if we could get a win. It's another Pac-10 team. We beat Oregon and Fresno State last year, so we can come into hostile environment and get a win.''

UCLA led 39-32 at the half and the Matadors were fortunate they didn't trail by more.

CSUN made just 12 of 29 first-half shots from the field, 6 of 11 free throws, were outrebounded by four and turned the ball over 14 times.

In what could have been a recipe for disaster for CSUN, Heinle and Busch each picked up their second fouls near the 10-minute mark and both went to the bench with 9:27 left in the half and CSUN already behind 26-17. Heinle returned for Northridge's last possession of the half.

UCLA built a 32-19 lead and seemed poised for a blowout after Dan Gadzuric's dunk of a Watson's missed shot and T.J. Cummings' short jumper in transition with 6:53 left in the half.

But the Bruins managed just one more field goal the rest of the half, allowing Northridge to creep within seven at the break.

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Photo: (color) Cal State Northridge's John Burrell, center, goes up for a shot against UCLA during the Matadors' 78-74 upset win.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

Box: HEAD TO HEAD