CSUN Losing Streak at 5 While USIU’s Ends at 18

SAN DIEGO —  Andre Chevalier came up short on an eight-foot, off-balance jump shot with six seconds left Thursday night as Cal State Northridge lost its fifth consecutive game, 98-96, to U. S. International at Golden Hall.

The Gulls ended an 18-game losing streak for only their second win of the season, against 22 losses, including a 123-91 loss to Northridge on Jan. 28.

Kevin Bradshaw, the nation’s leading scorer with a 37.7 average, scorched the Matadors for 46 points, including a free throw with 10 seconds remaining.

Chevalier drove the length of the court after Bradshaw’s foul shot and went up in the air looking to pass off, but he lost one of his options when teammate David Keeter tangled up with a USIU player and was knocked to the floor, spraining his ankle. Rather than come down and be whistled for traveling, Chevalier threw up a prayer that came up several feet short of the rim.

Earlier, he missed a free throw that would have tied the score with 13 seconds left.

Teammate Martin Smith also failed to come through from the line. With 30 seconds remaining, he could have tied it, but missed both attempts. Fortunately for Northridge, 6-foot-2 guard Kyle Kerlegan snared the rebound and Northridge worked the ball around for a shot. With 17 seconds to go, Chevalier worked a give-and-go with Percy Fisher and was fouled trying to get the shot off.

“When you lose to a 1-22 team it is not fun,” said CSUN assistant coach Tom McCollum, who is directing the team in the absence of ailing head coach Pete Cassidy. “Missed free throws and layins took their toll and our lack of rebounding in the second half. We let them climb back into it by giving them more possessions.”

Northridge (7-16) was led by Shelton Boykin, who scored a career-high 23 points and tied for his season-high in rebounding with 13.

Kyle Kerlegan added 20 points and Chevalier and Smith combined for 25. Chevalier also dished out a career-high nine assists.

In addition to Cassidy, the Matadors were missing starting swingman Keith Gibbs, who is recovering from a fainting spell that required hospitalization. Second-leading scorer and rebounder Todd Bowser was limited to eight minutes because of a shoulder injury.

Although Northridge trailed by a few points most of the first half, it outscored the Gulls, 9-2, in the last two minutes of the half to take a 45-40 lead at halftime. USIU made up the difference in the early stages of the second half and took the lead with 13 minutes left in the game on a basket by Mike Sterner. Over the next three minutes the Gulls built a seven-point lead at 74-67 before Northridge staged a comeback.