IS IT REALLY SUCH A MISMATCH?

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

Officially, the series dates back only six seasons. Three lopsided meetings, to be exact, and each went in UCLA's favor.

But there were also the days when Cal State Northridge's freshman team met UCLA's freshman squad regularly. It was before Lew Alcindor was so much in the public's eye and only playing with a bunch of other first-year guys.

Even then, the Bruins dominated.

So when, or if, CSUN beats UCLA for the first time on the basketball court, it will send a lot of shock waves throughout the region. And based on a quick start, high expectations and perhaps the most talented CSUN team in 40 years, many of the Matadors think today is a fine time to stage an upset.

``It's our best chance to beat UCLA,'' CSUN guard Jason Crowe said. ``This is our best record we've had (6-3) since we've moved to Division I. I'm sure they don't feel Northridge is in the same category as they are, and maybe they'll take us lightly. We match up pretty well. We feel we're just as talented as they are.''

Tipoff for CSUN and No. 12 UCLA is 7:30 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.

``UCLA, the pressure is on them,'' Crowe said. ``They don't want to lose to a team that really hasn't been successful in the past. We have the same amount of talent as anyone. It's how we perform.''

While UCLA might consider it just another nonconference game, it's not like that for CSUN. It's a marker, and not just with the basketball players but within the athletic administration.

Many of the Matadors grew up rooting for UCLA, wanting the opportunity to play at Pauley Pavilion. They were on the couch cheering for Tyus Edney to go the distance against Missouri, and have spent summers playing against other Bruins in leagues.

``This is going to be one of the hardest games they play,'' CSUN senior guard Derrick Higgins said. ``This is territory claiming. Are we getting respect? I think someone out there gives us a chance. Probably 12 out of a million.''

The repercussions of a CSUN win would validate the rise of the program and give the school unmatched publicity - in a good way - which can be a rarity on the Northridge campus. Even third-year CSUN coach Bobby Braswell admits to having a different feeling heading into this game as opposed to the 95-73 beating the Matadors suffered in his first season.

``We definitely feel like we're in a better position talent-wise,'' Braswell said. ``You feel like you have a chance, but we're going to have to play a perfect game.''

Before the 1992 meeting, in which UCLA won by a misleadingly close 80-73 score, the only opportunity the Matadors had to play the Bruins was on the freshman level because CSUN was a Division II school.

Sheer timing has placed CSUN in an intriguing position. The Matadors aren't loaded with experience - three of their five starters didn't play last season - but they certainly have more veterans than UCLA. Which is what CSUN is banking on.

``We have more experience and they have more high school All-Americans,'' CSUN forward Andre Larry said. ``In a way, we can have the edge.''

UCLA has some of the best young talent in the country in freshmen JaRon Rush, Jerome Moiso and Dan Gadzuric, but the Bruins also start a pair of sophomores.

``We can't afford to overlook anybody because we're such a young team,'' UCLA coach Steve Lavin said. ``We're still trying to develop as a basketball team. We've struggled in every game this year. Our team couldn't possibly have an exaggerated since of themselves because we haven't played very well this year. We're still trying to find our identity and still trying to find our chemistry.''

RIVALRY?

Though only 25 miles separate the two schools, tonight's game between No. 12 UCLA and Cal State Northridge is just the fourth meeting between the two programs. A look at the series history:

Year Result

1992 UCLA 80, Cal State Northridge 73

1994 UCLA 83, Cal State Northridge 60

1996 UCLA 95, Cal State Northridge 73

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO During his freshman year at UCLA (1966-67), Lew Alcindor was no match for CSUN's basketball team.

Daily News File Photo

BOX: RIVALRY? (see text)