CSUN NOTEBOOK: FLOWERS HAS FAITH IN BACKUP.

Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer

It was just Sept. 20 when Josh Fiske entered a game against Azusa-Pacific after waiting patiently behind one of Division I-AA's best football players, Cal State Northridge quarterback Aaron Flowers.

On Saturday night, Fiske attempts to fill Flowers' huge shoes as he makes his first career start at Portland State.

Can the inexperienced sophomore, who has connected on 8 of 12 passes for 140 yards in his career, keep Division I-AA's No. 1 passing offense on track? Flowers, who is recovering from a fractured right fibula, thinks so.

``The team has confidence in him right now, but he still has to earn it,'' said Flowers, who is projected to be back Oct. 25 against Sacramento State. ``He has to go out and perform since the team has confidence in him. I think he'll do it.

``The offense sees what he can do in practice. I don't know if the defense sees it so much. But the offense believes in him because he is doing things in practice the same way I would.''

Hoop scoop: ``Matador Madness,'' CSUN's version of ``Midnight Madness,'' will give the public its first peek at the men's basketball team on Oct. 20. The high-energy event, which begins at 10 p.m in the Matadome, will be highlighted by a men's basketball scrimmage and introductions of the men's and women's teams. Also included will be dee-jay music, a basketball skit and dance, introduction of the homecoming court and contests that include a $5,000 shot. It is free to the public and a packed gym is expected.

Prior to the event is a homecoming football rally and bonfire at the P.E. lawn at 8 p.m. The homecoming game is Oct. 25 against Sacramento State at North Campus Stadium at 6:05 p.m.

Starting over: It has been a less-than-satisfying beginning for the men's soccer team, which hopes to avoid a school-record-tying sixth consecutive defeat when it opens Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play today at 7 p.m. at home against UC Santa Barbara.

The Matadors (1-8) are coming off a pair of 4-1 losses this past weekend at the Santa Clara Invitational, falling to Santa Clara and San Francisco. Aamon Ross scored both goals for Northridge, which has lost five games by one-goal margins.

After the Gauchos (1-7-1), the Matadors host Cal Poly SLO on Sunday and nationally ranked UCLA on Oct. 12

Etc. Volleyball player Nancy Ma and men's cross country's John Greene were named Matador Student Athletes of the Month for September by the CSUN Student Athletic Congress. Greene, a junior from Agoura High, posted two top-10 finishes and crossed the finish line first for CSUN in three September meets. . . . Football ticket sales are up 134 percent over last season.