CSUN STUCK IN 0-FOR-BIG WEST RUT MATADORS HANDED WORST LOSS OF SEASON BY UCSB UCSB 77, CSUN 59.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

SANTA BARBARA - Forget about winning the Big West Conference title. If the basketball season ended today, Cal State Northridge wouldn't even play in the Big West tournament.

The Matadors sunk to new lows Thursday as UC Santa Barbara took off to a 29-point lead in the second half before cruising to a 77-59 victory in front 1,954 at The Thunderdome.

UCSB handed CSUN its worst lost of the year, and the Matadors (6-8) lost their sixth consecutive game and fell to 0-4 in the Big West - the only team without a victory in conference.

``I felt sorry for (my players),'' CSUN coach Bobby Braswell said. ``We didn't compete. I haven't coached a lot of teams that don't go out and compete.

``We were lost. It was like we were out there in the wilderness floundering around with no sense of purpose about what we're doing. I question our effort.''

Even Gauchos fans felt sorry for them. After UC Santa Barbara built the 29-point lead with 14:45 left in the second half, they chanted: ``Let them score! Let them score!''

Finally, Joseph Frazier made a shot to stop the bleeding.

What's so confusing about the loss - Braswell never has started a season 0-4 in conference - is that the Matadors made progress in a close loss at Big West leader Pacific on Saturday. But five days later, they responded with one of the worst losses in Braswell's seven-year tenure.

``It was kind of shocking,'' senior Lionel Benjamin said.

What's even more shocking is that CSUN, three years removed from an NCAA Tournament game, is in danger of missing the conference postseason tournament.

Eight of the 10 conference teams make the Big West tournament, although UC Riverside isn't eligible until next season.

``I don't even want to go there yet,'' Braswell said. ``If the season ended six games ago, we would've been in good shape.''

The Matadors were a good team one month ago. And even though CSUN lists the same personnel, it's vastly different now. It lacks an inside presence, a sturdy defense and any sort of offensive threat.

Frazier led the team in scoring with 15 points. For UCSB, Mark Hull, a Hoover of Glendale product, had 16 points.

UCSB (6-9, 3-2) didn't even need 10 minutes to establish a double-digit lead at 22-11, thanks a 10-0 run. UCSB had a 15-0 run early in the second half to build the 29-point lead.

``I didn't expect this to be a 20-point game, to be honest with you,'' UCSB coach Bob Williams said. ``I thought it would be very similar to their game at UOP. ...

``For us to extend it to 29 was completely unexpected. They're a much better team than that. Coach Braswell is too good, and their talent is too good to not start getting some W's.''

Everybody's saying that. But until CSUN gets a victory - it plays at Cal Poly (3-2 Big West) on Saturday - it's just talk.

How CSUN can get blown out in Santa Barbara and be within three minutes of pulling off an unthinkable upset at Oregon is unfathomable. But it's true.

Braswell-coached teams always have been about defense first. Their offense has been generated off a stingy defense.

Not now.

``Our defense is nonexistent,'' said Ian Boylan, who had 14 points and seven assists. ``They did whatever they wanted to us.''

The Gauchos have struggled this season and have blown leads. But even UCSB couldn't squander a 16-point halftime lead at 39-23.

UCSB went cold late in the second half with its reserves on the floor - it didn't score for nearly eight minutes. CSUN cut the lead to 59-46 on a shot by Ben Sullivan with six minutes left.

But Williams put his starters back and quickly restored order.