CSUN JUST HALF AS GOOD TEPID 2ND HALF LEADS TO LOSS LONG BEACH ST. 79, CS NORTHRIDGE 72.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer

LONG BEACH -- Cal State Northridge rose to the occasion once again Thursday against the Big West Conference men's basketball favorite, Long Beach State.

In the first half, that is.

Less than three weeks after defeating the 49ers at the Matadome in what so far has proved to be Northridge's season highlight, the visiting Matadors (10-11 overall, 3-5 BigWest) faded during the second half of the rematch, losing 79-72 in front of 1,613 at the Pyramid.

CSUN wasted a seven-point first-half lead, shooting just 29.6 percent in the second half, including 2 of 12 on 3-pointers.

``We had 'em, and we blew it. Right now, we can't put the ball in the basket,'' CSUN coach Bobby Braswell said. ``I think we're looking for 3-pointers too much.''

Long Beach State (14-6, 5-2) rallied over the final few minutes of the first half to lead 41-40 at intermission. But at that point, CSUN had to feel pretty good about its chances. The Matadors outshot the 49ers -- 45.7 percent compared with 41.9 percent -- and forced 12 turnovers during the first 20 minutes. More important, they converted 6 of 12 3-pointers, a minor miracle considering CSUN had made just 7 of 41 over the previous two games.

Cold shooting once again doomed the Matadors, as Long Beach State steadily pulled ahead in the second half, opening a 10-point lead with five minutes remaining.

CSUN's Terrell Jones had 16 points and Jayme Miller added 12.

Long Beach's second-leading scorer Kejuan Johnson and teammate Mark Dawson didn't play after being suspended earlier in the day for eligibility issues before their attendance at Long Beach State.

Johnson was averaging 15.1 points per game, and Dawson was averaging 5.7. Associate head coach Reggie Howard, a five-year veteran and the No. 2 man on the staff, also was suspended pending an investigation related to recruitment of prospective student athletes during the summer of 2005.

``We are taking these proactive steps while working closely with the NCAA as they continue to inquire about these issues,'' said Long Beach State athletic director Vic Cegles in a statement.

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