CSUN FINDS A NEW SPARK CSUN 99, LAFAYETTE 76.Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer Cal State Northridge has a case of Onyenegecha fever. Huh? Eto Onyenegecha is the basketball team's new star. He's almost single- handedly given fans hope that CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge can turn a sluggish start into something special. He brings intensity, enthusiasm and high-flying dunks - things missing in the Matadors' first six games. The 6-foot-6 junior scored a game-high 25 points on 9-of-10 shooting Tuesday, had two standing ovations and an assortment of dazzling dunks to launch CSUN to a 99-76 victory over Lafayette at the Northridge Gym. Onyenegecha, a transfer from City College of San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden , was academically ineligible in·el·i·gi·ble adj. 1. Disqualified by law, rule, or provision: ineligible to run for office; ineligible for health benefits. 2. until last week. He's played in just two games, and it's no coincidence those are the games CSUN dominated. ``Coach (Bobby Braswell Bobby Braswell, an American basketball coach, is currently the head coach for Cal State Northridge. Braswell was named the fourth head coach in Northridge history on April 30, 1996, succeeding the retired Pete Cassidy. ) told me that's my job, to keep the energy up, rebound rebound (rē´bownd), n/v 1. a recovery from illness. n 2. an outbreak of fresh reflex activity after withdrawal of a stimulus rebound adjective and run the floor,'' Onyenegecha said. ``I just listen to Coach.'' CSUN improved to 4-4 and heads into Saturday's Big West Conference opener at Cal State Fullerton with new confidence. And a new weapon. Onyenegecha had a stellar night with Lakers See Lake poets general manager Mitch Kupchak Mitchell "Mitch" Kupchak (born May 24 1954 in Hicksville, New York) is a retired American basketball player and current general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers since the 2000-01 NBA season after predecessor Jerry West moved to the Memphis Grizzlies organization. in the stands. Former CSUN point guard Markus Carr, who has seen all the Matadors' home games this season, is impressed with the way the Matadors have played lately. ``It's much different,'' Carr said. ``It's much more intense and that's what you need. I think he (Onyenegecha) started that, and as long as he remains consistent and humble, they'll be good.'' Three Matadors scored 20 or more points, with Davin White getting 24 on 10-of-14 shooting and Joe Frazier
Onyenegecha scored on two consecutive dunks within 30 seconds in the second half. He converted a two-handed dunk off an alley-oop from Antoine Parker and had a tip-in dunk off a rebound to bring fans to their feet. And when he fouled out with 5:19 left, he displayed a big smile that prompted wild cheers from the fans. ``Really? I didn't notice that,'' Onyenegecha said of the ovation. ``That's shocking. I'm glad the crowd is supporting us.'' Braswell is glad, too. ``He's developed a little following,'' he said. ``That's a good thing for our team and it's not just him.'' Jill Painter, (818) 713-3615 jill.painter(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: CSUN's Eto Onyenegecha looks to pass against Lafayette during Tuesday's game at Northridge. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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