Illness of Coach, Injury Stymie CS Northridge

Cal State Northridge wanted to win one for its ailing coach Friday night. But instead it played its worst game of the season at Matador Gymnasium in a 64-48 loss to Boise State.

Northridge, which was coached by assistant coach Tom McCollum in Pete Cassidy’s absence, was held to a season-low for points and shot 30.4%, its worst effort of the season.

Cassidy was admitted to Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Woodland Hills late Friday morning after running a high fever and complaining of intestinal pain. According to Bob Hiegert, Northridge athletic director, Cassidy will undergo tests today.

“We had the incentive to play harder for him,” Northridge guard Andre Chevalier said of Cassidy. “I don’t know. We just got dead legs. It just wasn’t there for us.”

Also, Todd Bowser, the Matadors’ second-leading scorer and rebounder, was sidelined because of a partially dislocated right shoulder.

Backup center Percy Fisher led Northridge with 16 points and a career-high nine rebounds.

Northridge fell to 7-14 overall and 5-2 at home with its third consecutive loss. It was also the eighth loss in nine games against Big Sky Conference teams.

Boise State, which was led by Michael Trotter’s 20 points, improved to 12-9.

The Matadors never recovered from a 16-4 Boise State run that gave the Broncos a 16-4 lead with 13 minutes, 51 seconds to play in the first half. During a span of 5:22 during which Northridge was held scoreless, the Matadors turned the ball over seven times and missed four shots, one of which was blocked.