College men’s basketball: Matadors Green with envy
Richard Dunn
NORTHRIDGE - Jerry Green has made so many game-winning shots in his
career that he no longer keeps track of such frivolous items.
“I really don’t keep count. I’m just glad that I hit the shot,” the UC
Irvine senior standout said of his 18-foot fade away with 16 seconds left
Thursday night to seal the visiting Anteaters’ 82-80 Big West Conference
men’s basketball victory over Cal State Northridge before 1,509 at the
Matadome.
“I kind of saved the day for us,” Green added. “I like to take the
last shot. I’m just glad it went in.”
As customary, the Anteaters were pushed to the brink in another Big
West battle as the conference co-leaders (with Utah State) rallied late
with three-pointers by Green (game-high 22 points) with 2:05 to play to
tie the game, 76-76, and by guard Mike Hood with 1:21 left to give UCI a
79-76 lead.
“Both games against Cal State Northridge were hard-fought contests. We
swapped favors,” said UCI Coach Pat Douglass, whose team (18-7, 11-3 in
the Big West) lost to Northridge, 73-72, in overtime Jan. 19 at the Bren
Events Center to snap Irvine’s school-record 19-game home winning streak.
Following Hood’s trey, Jermar Welch scored his only bucket for Cal
State Northridge on a putback with 47 seconds to play. Then UCI lost
possession after a loose ball on the floor, in which Hood picked up his
fifth foul.
Matador point guard Markus Carr (12 points, 10 of 10 from the foul line and 11 assists) put the hosts ahead, 80-79, with two freethrows when
37.3 seconds remained.
On UCI’s ensuing possession, Douglass said he was looking for one of
three options: Get it inside to 7-foot sophomore center Adam Parada, to
Jordan Harris at the high post or to Green.
On defense, Cal State Northridge’s Gene Myvett fell down on the play
and when Carr came over to help him up, Green dribbled away from them and
eventually got an open look.
“That kind of helped me out a lot,” Green said of Myvett falling to
the floor.
Carr’s shot attempt to win it for Northridge wouldn’t fall in the
closing seconds and, after a mad scramble with the ball loose on the
floor, UCI was awarded possession to ice the win. Green added a free
throw with 2.5 seconds left to provide UCI with its margin of victory.
“They made me alter my shot a little,” said Carr, who draws attention
from NBA scouts.
Cal State Northridge (8-14, 7-6) in the first half built a 30-26 lead
in the first half after a 13-0 scoring run. Curtis Slaughter scored 15 of
his season-high 20 points in the first half to lead the Matadors. He
canned 4 of 5 three-point attempts in the first half.
In addition to Green, Hood and Parada finished with 17 points each,
while Harris (11 points) and Stanislav Zuzak (10) also finished in double
figures. Harris led the Anteaters with 10 rebounds, while Green dished
out four assists and Parada added four steals and three blocks.
“It was a great win for us, especially after last Saturday night,”
said Douglass, whose team lost to Utah State at home, 62-61.
Northridge, which has now lost four straight, was also led by Lionel
Benjamin’s 16 points. UCI will be at University of the Pacific Saturday
night for a 7:05 tip-off.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.