Jan. 12, 2008

Box Score

Northridge, Calif. - The Pacific men's basketball team fell to 11-5 (2-1 Big West) with a 78-61 loss at Cal State Northridge on Saturday, Jan. 12. The Matadors improved to 12-3 (4-0 Big West).

The Tigers pulled ahead early, outscoring the Matadors 5-0 over the first four and a half minutes. Pacific extended to an 11-4 lead, before Cal State Northridge scored the next eight point points to take a 12-11 lead with 10:54 left in the first half. After reclaiming the lead, junior Steffan Johnson (Kent, Wash.) keyed a 10-4 run to take give the Tigers a 30-21 lead with 1:03 left in the half. Cal State Northridge scored four of the last five points of the half to close the gap to 31-25 at the break. Johnson scored 16 points in the first half, hitting four three-pointers. Pacific held the Matadors to 35.7% shooting from the field, include 0-for-12 from three point range, but shot just 34.5% from the field. Each team had trouble hanging on to the ball, as the Tigers had 14 turnovers and the Matadors 13.

Junior Chad Troyer (Seattle, Wash.) hit a three-pointer to start the second half and equal Pacific's largest lead at 34-25, but the Matadors turned the game their way soon thereafter. A quick 6-0 run by Cal State Northridge cut the Tiger lead to three, but Troyer answered with another three-pointer to extend the back to six at 37-31 with 17:09 remaining. After trading baskets to make it 39-33, Cal State Northridge hit its first three-pointer of the game, and would make nine in the second half. An 11-4 run featuring three three-pointers gave the Matadors their first lead of the game at 44-43. The Tigers were able to get back even at 46-46, but three more consecutive three-pointers by Cal State Northridge made the score 55-46. Pacific cut the lead back to seven on a layup by Johnson, but an 8-2 run by CSUN with two more treys took the lead to 63-50 with 7:59 remaining. The Tigers would not get closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

In addition to hitting 9-of-12 three-pointers in the second half, the Matadors shot 70.0% overall from the field. Pacific shot 40.7% from the field for the game, and a season-low 45.0% from the free throw line. The Tigers also committed a season-high 27 turnovers.

Johnson had 21 points to lead the Tigers. Junior Anthony Brown (Sacramento, Calif.) added 14 points, while Troyer scored 12 points.

Jonathan Heard led the Matadors with 16 points.

Pacific is next in action against Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the Alex G. Spanos Center.