BIGGEST TEST IS AT HAND : BY THE NUMBERS.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

In its last two games, the Cal State Northridge basketball team went from tied for second place in the Big Sky Conference to sixth.

Starting tonight, the Matadors will host the two squads - Montana, then Montana State on Saturday - that embarrassed them in the first round of conference play.

Those games are not exactly barometers of how the rest of the conference contests will go for the Matadors (8-10, 4-4). The Big Sky is too unpredictable for that. But victories this week over the two teams tied for second place would send the Matadors on their five-game road trip virtually assured of making the six-team conference tournament. Getting swept this week would mean a four-game losing streak - and a struggle to make the tourney.

Here's a look at why the Matadors have at times been dazzling and other times dim through the first half of conference play:

Keith Higgins: The elder of the high-flying Higgins brothers, Keith averaged 3.1 steals a game before conference play, but averages almost one less than that in conference. He did snake six Saturday against Northern Arizona. No one else on the team - save for his brother - is capable of bringing the Matadors back to life midgame.

Derrick Higgins: Sometimes the complete player, sometimes not, he is averaging 3.25 steals a game in the Big Sky. His 48 total steals is second to his brother's 49. Derrick wouldn't be at Northridge if, as Montana State's Mike Badding said after their last meeting, he could ``put the rock in the hole.''

Kevin Taylor: This is the wrong conference for a kid with asthma. The doctor told Taylor he will always have trouble playing in cold-weather climates and at high elevation. One of the Matadors' tallest players at 6-foot-7, he needs to be stronger around the basket. One of two Matadors to average double figures in scoring (10.1), he's the team's top rebounder (6.4).

Lucky Grundy: The walk-on turned starter has struggled of late. He seemed destined to watch much of the Northern Arizona game until Trenton Cross got into foul trouble. Grundy has 30 turnovers and 26 assists in conference.

Tom Samson: The studious senior has pretty much maintained the high level of play he achieved at the end of last season, and few take the game as seriously as he does.

Trenton Cross: Since losing his starting job two months ago, Cross has showed flashes of brilliance and also showed why he's a reserve. While he doesn't get introduced before games, he usually gets his 20 minutes in.

Matt Andrews: The baby-faced junior forward has started four straight games, first in place of Kevin Taylor, then for Samson. He handles the ball and gets it in the basket a lot better this season.

Gerald Rhoden: The shooter. Rhoden comes off the bench, nails some 3s, makes a defensive play, makes some free throws, then makes a turnover and lets his man slip by. He leads the team with 12.8 points a game.

Brady Mertes: One of the nicest kids around, but mostly a liability on the court. He has cut down on the bonehead plays, though, and he will start tonight as a reward for good practice play.

Keith Higgins: Averaging 3.75 turnovers and 2.25 steals in conference compared to 2.5 and 3.7 before conference.

Kevin Taylor: Second on team with 10.1 points per game. Leads team with 6.4 rebounds per game.

Tom Samson: Has fouled out in four of eight conference games.

Matt Andrews: Has started the past four games but averaged just 14 minutes in those contests.

Slam dunks: The Higgins brothers have 48 of the team's 60 dunks.

CAPTION(S):

Box

Box: by the NUMBERS (see text)