ROLLE TAKES HIS TIME, DOES IT RIGHT CSUN FORWARD DISCOVERS SUCCESS MEANS NOT TO RUSH.

Byline: Chris Branam Staff Writer

Relax, what's the hurry?

That's what the Cal State Northridge men's basketball coaches told senior forward Hewitt Rolle before Friday night's game at Montana State.

The Matadors needed a big game from Rolle, and he responded with 12 points and five rebounds in Northridge's 86-62 victory. Rolle had four offensive rebounds, three assists and a steal in just 25 minutes; he didn't play much in the second half as CSUN maintained a huge lead.

Before the game, CSUN coach Bobby Braswell showed Rolle a snippet of tape from the Matadors' home win over the Bobcats.

``There was about a two-minute stretch . . . (Rolle) scored eight straight points for us. He was taking his time, he wasn't rushing,'' Braswell said. ``I told him, `This is what you're capable of doing against this team. This is what you haven't been doing lately. You've been in a hurry.' ''

Rolle was CSUN's most consistent player when the team started 10-3. But a bad game at Portland State on Jan. 13 - he had eight points and only four rebounds in a 76-62 loss - started Rolle on a roller-coaster.

He had 16 points and seven rebounds in the Montana State game on Jan. 20, then was 2 of 8 from the floor two nights later in a win over Montana.

The cycle continued at Northern Arizona two weeks ago. Even though he had 17 points and missed only three shots in CSUN's 83-73 loss, Rolle was whistled several times for traveling.

``At Northern Arizona, I was doing things too fast,'' Rolle said. ``My coaches told me to slow up. (They said) `Make your move, but take your time.' ''

--Not so fast: Rolle wasn't alone in surging at the time the Matadors needed a win.

Senior forward Jeff Parris, who almost disappeared at Northern Arizona two weeks ago and fouled out with no field goals and two points, made eight of 13 shots and had 17 points and four assists.

In CSUN's eight losses, Parris has scored in double figures twice. Which begs the question: Does CSUN's fortune rely on Parris? Can Northridge win without him having a good game?

``This is a team sport. I don't care what anybody says,'' he said. ``One player can't make the team go in the tank and one player can't make the team succeed. It's all about how you produce as a team.''

--Bad memory: CSUN's 42-26 lead at halftime Friday night was eerily similar to last year's 47-33 score against the Bobcats in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament last year. Montana State shot 70 percent and beat Northridge 91-90.

``One of my assistants said something at halftime (about the score),'' Braswell said. ``I said `You think I'm going to go in there and tell our players that? You're crazy.' I did not bring that up at all. We were playing too well to bring anything negative into the mix.''

--They're not automatic: With all four remaining regular-season games at Matador Gym - where CSUN is 9-0 this season - the Matadors don't think they're out of the conference title race.

CSUN (15-8, 7-5) is three games behind leader Eastern Washington (13-9, 10-2). The Eagles come to CSUN on Thursday.

``We need to remember that we have four difficult games at home,'' Braswell said. ``We don't have any easy games. These teams that we're playing are all fighting for playoff spots and they're all fighting for seeding.''

--Helping the cause: Guard Marco McCain, who came alive offensively when second-leading scorer Andre Larry left the team for three games, struggled through an eight-minute, 0-for-3, zero-point performance in CSUN's loss at Montana Thursday night.

But the reserve sharpshooter came back with nine points, all on 3-pointers, in the Matadors' win over Montana State on Friday.

``Since Andre (Larry)'s been back, Marco has been pressing a little bit,'' Braswell said. ``Remember how well Marco was playing when Andre wasn't here?

``I called him right before we left (for the game) that he needs to understand the role he has on this team.'

--Quotable: ``I feel that we're still the best team (in the Big Sky). Once we get everybody together . . . and play the way we played against Oregon and Fresno State, we're going to win this thing.'' - CSUN guard Carl Holmes

HOME STYLIN'

The CSUN men's basketball team hasn't lost at Matador Gym since Montana shocked the Matadors 74-68 on Feb.11, 1999. A look at the team's 10-game winning streak at home:

Date Opponent Score

Feb. 13, '99 Montana St. 83-62

Nov. 27, '99 CS Dominguez Hills 80-65

Dec. 6, '99 Oral Roberts 72-59

Dec. 28, '99 St. Francis 88-79

Dec. 30, '99 San Jose St. 71-53

Jan. 2 Cal Poly SLO 94-86

Jan. 6 Northern Arizona 69-66

Jan. 20 Montana St. 73-63

Jan. 22 Montana 79-67

Feb. 3 Idaho St. 79-77

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Box: Home Stylin' (see text)