Northridge Hangs Tough in First Big Sky Game

With just under seven minutes to go in Cal State Northridge’s 78-62 Big Sky Conference victory over Portland State on Thursday night at Matador Gym, Northridge began to crumble. Its 11-point lead had melted to five and Coach Bobby Braswell could sense his team was falling apart.

So, during a timeout, Braswell delivered a stern message.

“I told them they were playing not to lose and they needed to play to win,” he said. “I said, ‘You need to keep being aggressive offensively and defensively.’ ”

Moments after the team broke the huddle, Keith Higgins grunted as he blocked a shot.

A few minutes of inspired play later, the crowd of 556 was no longer on the edge of its seat and Northridge, whose 5-6 record is its best after 11 games in the program’s seven Division I seasons, was comfortably on its way to a victory in its first Big Sky game.

“We know how it feels to lose,” center Kevin Taylor said, “and it seemed like when they pulled to within five, we got together and said we are going to refuse to lose this first Big Sky game at home.”

Said Braswell: “It’s a huge leap for this team because we have not had a history of holding leads.”

The Higgins brothers, Keith and Derrick, were the keys in the closing minutes.

With 3:15 to play and Northridge up, 63-56, Derrick intercepted a pass and missed a layup, which was put back in by his brother. On the next possession for Portland State (2-8), Derrick blocked a shot right to Keith, who drove to the basket and somehow managed to put in a layup while Jamie Snook was climbing his back in what was called an intentional foul.

Keith made one free throw, then made another after he was fouled on Northridge’s next possession.

Taylor led the Matadors with 16 points. Northridge held Portland State to 39% shooting, including 19% from three-point range.