TONIGHT’S OTHER GAME

At Cal State Northridge, the suspension of senior guard Trenton Cross for two exhibition games because he left a recruit at a party last month qualified as major turmoil.

But Arizona State, the Matadors’ opponent today at 1 p.m. in the University Activity Center in Tempe, is a program with much larger problems.

The FBI is investigating reports of point-shaving by at least three Sun Devil players in four games during the 1993-94 season.

Two current players--Reggie Hester and Eddie House--were arrested in August for allegedly stealing a compact disc player from a dormitory room. Charges against House, a sophomore point guard, were dropped. But Hester, a junior guard, is beginning a two-game suspension and will not play against Northridge.

And Bill Frieder, the Sun Devils’ coach of eight seasons, resigned under pressure Sept. 10. The team was 10-20 last season.

Don Newman, most recently the coach at Cal State Sacramento, is the interim coach.

Northridge was 14-15 and runner-up in the Big Sky Conference tournament a year ago in Coach Bobby Braswell’s first season.

The Matadors are no taller than the Sun Devils, but three starters are back and several newcomers played well in two exhibition victories.

In addition to Cross, the most valuable player in the Big Sky tournament, 6-foot-3 guard Derrick Higgins and 6-7 forward Kevin Taylor are senior returning starters. Higgins led the Matadors with an 11.6 scoring average last season.