CSUN 159, REDLANDS 97 CSUN OPENS WITH BANG.

Byline: -- Gerry Gittelson

Hey, Cal State Northridge, not bad for home openers.

The Matadors celebrated their first home game by setting a Big West Conference team scoring record in a 159-97 nonconference men's basketball victory Wednesday over Redlands before 1,106 at the Matadome.

The previous Big West record was 142 points by UNLV in 1985. The Northridge record was 123 in a victory over USIU on Jan. 28, 1991.

Northridge shot 71.3 percent -- including 20 dunks -- and finished with a 63-32 rebounding advantage. Jonathan Heard scored 22 points in 12 minutes, and Calvin Chitwood and Mike McCrary both added 19.

It was about what you'd expect when an NCAA DivisionI program welcomes a Division III school of 2,400 students that's playing its first game of the year. Redlands (0-1) seemed to treat the contest as a scrimmage, regularly subbing five players at a time.

Northridge (3-1) jumped to a 15-point lead during the first 10 minutes and opened a 73-38 halftime advantage, shooting a red-hot 76.2 percent.

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CSUN'S LARGEST SINGLE-GAME TOTALS