NORTHRIDGE REFUSES TO FOLD; MATADORS SNUFF OUT LATE RALLY IN DEBUT : CSUN 83, LONG BEACH 65.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

There were only 10 minutes remaining and his team led by 10 points, but Cal State Northridge coach Bobby Braswell sensed trouble.

So he called a timeout, sat the Matadors down and reminded them what they had not done to build their comfortable lead against host Cal State Long Beach on Saturday.

They didn't make selfish plays, Braswell told them. They didn't play sloppy defense, and they didn't stray from their offensive game plan.

Six minutes later, after Northridge buckled down with a 19-8 run on its way to a 83-65 win, Braswell allowed himself a smile and a bit of bravado.

Turning to an assistant coach, then nodding assuredly, Braswell whispered: ``We come into (Long Beach's) place, take their guaranteed (money) and get the win,'' said Braswell, who was making his first appearance in Long Beach since he was an assistant there from 1989-92.

What Braswell didn't mention was that Northridge was over .500 for the first time in his three years at the school, that the Matadors (1-0) won their first season opener since 1988-89 and that for the first time in school history, they'd won a road game in which they were guaranteed a slice of the gate.

None of it would have happened had Northridge not tightened up at the midway point of the second half. The Matadors seemed in control, but a few lapses defensively and some one-on-one plays at the offensive end convinced Braswell that a reminder was needed. Northridge, which got 18 points and six rebounds from Jeff Parris, answered with a big run to stretch its lead to 79-58.

``They responded, and as a coach that's something you love to see,' Braswell said. ``We got some plays defensively and started doing what we had been doing offensively.''

They also got some timely performances from a few unlikely sources. Hewitt Rolle, who frustrated Braswell with some lackluster practices recently, came off the bench with 13 points. Two other bench players - Greg Minor and Markus Carr - had 13 and 11 points, respectively.

On a night when heralded newcomer Rico Harris struggled to get into a flow because of foul trouble, Minor, Carr and Rolle stepping up was especially significant.

``It's nice to see those guys get the job done,'' said Jason Crowe, a starter who finished with three points. ``We know they've got our back and we've got theirs.''

Harris, a 6-9 forward who originally signed at Arizona State and played the past two years at L.A. City College, had hoped for a better debut. But he sat all but three minutes of the first half with two fouls, then played sporadically in the second after picking up his third and fourth. He finished with nine points in 17 minutes.

``It was very frustrating, but we got the win and that's the most important thing,'' Harris said.

Northridge will need more from Harris and Crowe when it travels to the University of Tennessee on Tuesday. Still, Braswell was pleased with the collective play of the team to support the off day from its key players.

``Anytime you can go on the road and get a win it's something to feel good about,'' Braswell said.

And it doesn't hurt to make $10,000, either.

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Photo

PHOTO The Matadors' Carl Holmes attempts to knock the ball away from the 49ers' Ramel Lloyd.

John Lazar/Daily News