Matadors beat up Lions

NORTHRIDGE — Playing an NCAA Division I opponent on the road, Vanguard University, an NAIA school, might have expected to take a lump or two Thursday night.

But after a 94-49 drubbing at the hands of host Cal State Northridge, Lions’ Coach Fred Litzenberger was doctoring what he feared had become a hematoma.

“I told [the players] ‘You can’t let what happened here ruin what a great start we’ve had,’ ” Litzenberger said. “And so you’ve got to wash it out of your mind, because it doesn’t mean anything. That’s the way [Thursday’s outcome] was supposed to be. So, hey, when that happens, there’s nothing you can do about that.”

The loss ended a six-game winning streak for Vanguard (8-3), which was 7-22 last season. The Lions’ previous three victories, including a home triumph Wednesday night, came against NCAA Division II programs, leading off an ambitious stretch of scheduling for Litzenberger’s squad.

“If you’d have asked me before the season [about the last four games], I’d have hoped we could split,” Litzenberger said. “These kids have done a great job and I just want to make sure that they get this out of their mind, because this doesn’t mean anything.”

The Lions appeared early as if they weren’t going to let anything deter them from yet another eye-opening performance as they claimed leads of 5-4 and 8-6 against the Matadors (6-2).

But the hosts began an 11-0 run with 17:33 left in the first half and later added a 14-0 burst that helped them outscore the Lions, 18-2, heading into halftime.

Vanguard went the last 10:10 of the first half without a field goal and finished eight of 28 from the field (28.6%) in the opening half.

“The effort wasn’t quite as good as it has been, but we did still play hard a lot of times,” Litzenberger said. “But when things don’t go right, once it starts spiraling that way, it’s hard to stop against a really good team. And we couldn’t get it stopped. The first

Four, five minutes we were OK, but then you could just see we had no legs.”

Litzenberger said coming back in 24 hours after defeating Mesa State of Colorado Wednesday, only added to the challenge for his players. But he also credited Northridge, a member of the Big West Conference, for administering a beating.

“They were ready to play,” Litzenberger said. “They’ve been off for 12 days, practicing, because of finals. And we haven’t been able to [practice]. But they’re a great team and they’re doing a great job. They play well defensively, they rebound the heck out of the ball, and we gave them layups and open jumpers.”

Northridge led, 48-20, at halftime, but Vanguard came out attacking the basket early after intermission.

Senior center Arvydas Vaitiekus dunked off an assist from sophomore point guard Greg Scott to open the second half and Scott banked in a six-foot runner to make it a four-point Vanguard surge.

But the Matadors kept swarming on defense and attacking the basket on offense, leaving little room for any Vanguard momentum to accumulate.

Northridge had second-half runs of eight and 13 consecutive points and led by as many as 93-43, before Lions’ reserves Landon Pluimer and Brian Roberts each netted a three-pointer in the final 1:11 to cut into the deficit.

Junior guard Andrew Ellis led the visitors with 14 points, though his eight turnovers were more than double any other Lion. Vanguard finished with 23 turnovers, to Northridge’s 11.

Scott had 11 points, five assists and five rebounds.

Junior Dennis Heenan led Vanguard with six rebounds, but was just one of eight from the field to contribute to the team’s woeful 30.2% shooting from the field (19 for 63).

Northridge, with four scorers in double figures, finished 40 of 75 from the field (53.3%) and won the rebounding battle, 49-37.

Calvin Chitwood paced the winners with 20 pints, while junior point guard Josh Jenkins chipped in 14 points and 10 assists.

Nonconference

Cal State Northridge 94, Vanguard 49

VU – Trajceski 3, Heenan 3, Vaitiekus 2, Ellis 14, Scott 11, Johnson 6, Roberts 3, Pluimer 3, Gusiff 2, Davis 2.

3-pt. goals – Ellis 2, Heenan 1, Scott 1, Roberts 1, Pluimer 1.

Fouled out – None.

CSUN – Chitwood 20, Heard 14, Miller 8, Jenkins 14, Haynes 6, Tresvant 15, Townsend 8, Colston 3, Taylor 2, Osunsanmi 2, Lizarraga 2.

3-pt. goals – Tresvant 4.

Fouled out – None.

Halftime – CSUN, 48-20.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.