CARR'S WHEELS TAKE CSUN TO WIN CSUN 95, SAC. ST. 82.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO - He was on crutches Friday. But Saturday, he was back to delivering those customary breathtaking passes and driving the Cal State Northridge offense.

Yes, Markus Carr is back. Not that he was gone for long.

He left Thursday's game against Weber State with a sprained left ankle. He didn't practice with the team Friday. Instead, he rode a bike and rehabilitated his ankle. At first, it was believed to be a high ankle sprain. It turned out to be a minor twist.

The point guard had 10 assists and four points to guide CSUN to a 95-82 Big Sky Conference victory over Sacramento State at the Hornet Gym.

CSUN (9-6, 2-0) was led by Brian Heinle and John Burrell for the second consecutive game, with 27 points apiece, and Jeff Parris, who was held to three on Thursday, scored 24.

The Matadors beat the Hornets (3-9, 0-2) for the 28th time in 34 meetings.

``It was good to be back,'' Carr said. ``I understand my role on this team. I believe in will power. You can hold me down but you can't keep me out.''

Carr left Saturday's game with another ankle injury - this time it was the right ankle. But he returned and said he'll be OK. The crutches he used were for precautionary measures.

Heinle also had 12 rebounds for his seventh double-double and fourth in the last five games. Heinle and Burrell combined to score 110 points in the last two games.

The Matadors shot exceptionally well, as they made their first 11 of 13 shots to build a 13-point lead midway through the first half. CSUN shot 67 percent and had a 48-36 lead at halftime, although it had as much as an 18-point lead.

``Boy, our offense is looking pretty good right now,'' CSUN coach Bobby Braswell said. ``The scary part is that you start wondering if the guys are so excited about the offense that they don't let up defensively. Defensively, I didn't think we were very good at all. I thought we were good in the first half. In the second half they got back in the game. It's a credit to them. They worked very hard.''

CSUN had several opportunities to put Sacramento State away but it never did. Not until down the stretch. Pablo Gonzales, who had 25 points, including six 3-pointers, helped the Hornets pull to within nine points at 70-61 with 10 minutes left in the second half. But that's as close as they got.

CSUN was called for three technicals. Braswell got one when he stepped a few feet onto the court during play to seek a foul. Another was because the Matadors had six players on the floor. The third was on Burrell for something he said.

The Matadors conclude a three-game road trip Thursday at Northern Arizona before three consecutive home games.

--Senior Carl Holmes suffered a slight concussion, but he's expected to be OK.