CSUN ROUTS CS FULLERTON CARR HAS 1,000 POINTS BUT SHOWS HE CAN STILL DISH IT OUT CSUN 92, CSF 68.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Markus Carr was honored before Thursday's game for scoring 1,000 career points.

When the game started, Carr went back to what he's done best at Cal State Northridge: help others score.

Last year, Carr was the nation's assist leader. This year, he was forced to become a scoring point guard with a young and inexperienced team.

The old Carr returned, at least for one game. Carr had 15 points and a season-high 12 assists to lead CSUN to a 92-68 rout of Cal State Fullerton on Thursday before 1,358 at the Northridge Gym.

CSUN (7-10) has won four consecutive games and is alone in second place in the Big West Conference at 6-2, one game behind UC Irvine (7-1). The Titans (4-12) fell to 1-7.

Matadors coach Bobby Braswell looked at the updated standings and shook his head in disbelief considering CSUN started the season 2-9.

``It's a great position to be in, but I know we've got a lot more to play,'' Braswell said. ``This is a lot nicer than being on the other end, that's for sure.''

They did so behind the sure hands of CSUN's frontcourt players, who dominated the boards, and Carr.

``I just think I let the game come to me more, whether it be with assists or scoring,'' Carr said. ``There were a lot of opportunities. A lot of open looks.''

CSUN's pressure defense was too much for Fullerton, which was down to eight players because of illnesses, injuries and academics. The Matadors forced the Titans into 24 turnovers.

It was also nice for Braswell and the Matadors to see Carr dishing out alley-oops and no-look passes as he did so often the past few years.

``I'm happy for (Carr),'' said Lionel Benjamin, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds. ``We didn't know he had 12 assists. It's nice that he's able to get the ball to us and he knows that he doesn't have to score the whole game.''

Fullerton, on the heels of a shocking win over first-place Utah State, was no match for CSUN, which outrebounded the Titans 46-31, including 21 on the offensive end.

Jermar Welch had 18 points and eight rebounds. Five players scored in double figures for the Matadors, including Curtis Slaugther, who had 13 but didn't start because he was late to a practice last week.

``Defense says it all for us,'' Welch said.

The Matadors led 51-45 midway through the second half but then outscored Fullerton 34-17 to end the game to keep the Titans winless on the road this season.

``They handled us in the second half,'' Fullerton coach Donny Daniels said. ``We were forced to go with a small lineup (because of fouls). We need to play better on the road.''

The Titans could hardly afford to get into foul trouble but that's what happened.

Babacar Camara - Fullerton's 6-foot-9, 240-pound center - was called for his third foul in the first half and fouled out with 11 minutes left. Forward Pape Sow led Fullerton with 28 points.

Women

--CS Fullerton 64, CS Northridge 55: Katie McCluskey scored 17 points, Heather Hansen added 12 and Allyson Alhadeff 11 as the host Titans (3-14, 1-5) won their first Big West Conference game.

Center Jenny Shetters had 17 points for CSUN (1-15, 1-5), hitting 5 of 8 field shots and going 7 for 10 at the free-throw line. But no other player scored in double figures for the Matadors, who shot 37 percent and committed 26 turnovers.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

CSUN's Gene Myvett races Cal State Fullerton's Brandon Campbell for a loose ball.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

Box:

BIG WEST STANDINGS