CSUN VICTIM OF FOUL PLAY FREE THROW WITH FOUR SECONDS LEFT LIFTS E. WASHINGTON E. WASH. 78, CSUN 77.

Byline: Chris Branam Staff Writer

CHENEY, Wash. - It was like watching Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa - in a pitching contest. Or maybe Brett Favre and Steve Young earning their pay as linebackers.

The two worst free-throw shooting men's basketball teams in the Big Sky Conference were forced to try to beat each other at the free-throw line Saturday night. What a shame.

But what a finish. It won't be forgotten by Cal State Northridge.

The Matadors might have had one stolen from them against Eastern Washington, which got a free throw from Will Levy with four seconds left to beat CSUN 78-77 in front of 1,670 at Reese Court.

Northridge, which started this two-game road swing undefeated and tied for first in the Big Sky Conference, dropped to 2-2 and 10-5 overall. The Eagles are sub.-500 overall (6-7) but leading the Big Sky at 3-0.

Ironically, Eastern Washington, which had three key players foul out in the final 10 minutes, was the beneficiary of a whistle when both teams struggled for a long rebound in the final seconds.

Reserve guard Marco McCain was called for fouling Levy, who missed the first then made the second after a CSUN timeout.

"Marco is trying to do the right thing (on the play)," said CSUN senior forward Andre Larry. "I didn't see a foul. You're going to call something like that in a tight game?"

CSUN coach Bobby Braswell said "it was a tough call" on McCain, who was jumping over Levy for a rebound.

"I didn't know if it was a foul or not," Braswell said. "(The official) thought he saw a foul and called it."

The Matadors' Markus Carr tried a desperation 25-footer at the buzzer, but the ball went off the backboard.

In another twist, EWU beat CSUN last year at home by the same score.

The teams combined for 54 fouls in the game, including seven in the first 1 1/2 minutes of the second half. But CSUN only was 17 of 33 from the line in the game, and 6 of 14 in its attempts after it was awarded two free throws on every EWU foul.

CSUN was also outrebounded 46-30.

"We didn't do the little things," said junior guard Carl Holmes. "We didn't get the rebounds and we missed free throws. It hurts to lose like that."

CSUN shot 62 percent (16 of 26) in the first half, when junior center Brian Heinle was 7 of 9 for 18 points. Heinle finished with a game-high 25 in just 29 minutes.

Heinle dominated starting center Chris White, who had three fouls in just six minutes in the first half.