HOPE SPRINGS FOURTH BIG WEST TOURNEY ON CSUN'S MIND CSUN 76, PACIFIC 73.Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer There's still hope in Cal State Northridge basketball circles after a 76-73 Big West victory Saturday over University of the Pacific at the Matadome. The victory was Northridge's second in a row, breaking a nine-game series losing streak. With two road games remaining, the Matadors (14-14, 5-7) still have a shot to finish fourth to earn a first-round bye in the conference tournament beginning March 7 in Anaheim. "To finish fourth would be good for us," said Calvin Chitwood, whose two free throws with 26 seconds left gave Northridge a four-point lead. "I think we still have the potential to be a great team. If we play well, I think we're unstoppable. I really do." Northridge nearly blew most of an 11-point lead in the final four minutes, and Solomon HorseChief's 3-pointer with 1:48 to play put Pacific (11-15, 5-6) down 69-67. Chitwood tipped in a Jason Hill miss to give Northridge a four-point lead, and Rai Colston and Chitwood made enough free throws to keep Northridge ahead. Chitwood scored 19 points, Jonathan Heard added 16 with five rebounds and two steals, and Thomas Shewmake scored 13 with 13 rebounds. "We had some letdowns but I knew we wouldn't quit," Heard said. "We came together as a team. It's our last home game, so this was a big win for the seniors." Northridge made 26 of 41 free throws, compared with 15 of 18 for Pacific (11-15, 5-6). At least Northridge went to the line more than its opponent -- something that's happened infrequently in·fre·quent adj. 1. Not occurring regularly; occasional or rare: an infrequent guest. 2. this season. "We can be a very good team if we play hard and do the little things," Shoemake said. "We just need to buckle down buck·le n. 1. A clasp for fastening two ends, as of straps or a belt, in which a device attached to one of the ends is fitted or coupled to the other. 2. . I think we're over the hump hump (hump) a rounded eminence. dowager's hump popular name for dorsal kyphosis caused by multiple wedge fractures of the thoracic vertebrae seen in osteoporosis. ." After the game, coach Bobby Braswell Bobby Braswell, an American basketball coach, is currently the head coach for Cal State Northridge. Braswell was named the fourth head coach in Northridge history on April 30, 1996, succeeding the retired Pete Cassidy. grabbed the microphone and implored the spectators to give Northridge support in the Big West tournament. "I'm happy for the seniors, and I think all of our guys played well the entire game," Braswell said afterward af·ter·ward also af·ter·wards adv. At a later time; subsequently. Adv. 1. afterward - happening at a time subsequent to a reference time; "he apologized subsequently"; "he's going to the store but he'll be back here . "There's an immaturity im·ma·ture adj. 1. Not fully grown or developed. See Synonyms at young. 2. Marked by or suggesting a lack of normal maturity: silly, immature behavior. factor we have to deal with because things are still going to get tough down the stretch. We're going to have win close games like we saw tonight." HorseChief scored 15 points, Michael White There are multiple public figures named Michael White or Mike White, including:
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com (661) 257-5218 |
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