CSUN men's basketball loses its seventh straight
By Alonso Tacanga, Special to the Daily News
Updated: 01/07/2010 11:56:33 PM PST
Confidence is not at an all-time high for the two-time defending Big West Conference champion Cal State Northridge men's basketball team, especially after its latest loss, 65-62 at home to UC Irvine on Thursday night.
The loss was the seventh consecutive for the Matadors (4-10, 0-3 Big West) - a career worst for CSUN coach Bobby Braswell - and dropped them to 0-3 in the conference.
"We got ourselves a hole," Braswell said. "Especially not winning at home."
The Matadors had countless chances especially in crunch time.
Trailing 63-62 with the ball and 16.4 seconds to go, Braswell called a timeout to set up a potential winner. Guard Mark Hill threw the ball into forward Lenny Daniel in the post, but Daniel's layup was short.
Irvine (8-7, 2-1) corralled the rebound with six seconds to go, made two free throws, forced Vinnie McGhee into one last missed 3-pointer and called it a night.
It was just one of many 3-point misses for the Matadors, who went 2-of-9 from beyond the arc.
But it wasn't just 3-pointers, it was also free throws. CSUN missed 12 of 30.
"It's all confidence right now," said Hill, who missed four freebies and shot 1 of 6 overall for eight points. "You miss one and they start (coming off)."
Misses and missed opportunities, along with a balanced Anteater attack (five UCI players scored in double figures, led by forward Eric Wise with 14 points), doomed CSUN.
"Our team just has mental baggage, losses are piling up and guys are trying to make plays," said CSUN forward Willie Galick, who led the Matadors with 15 points. "We need to get back to the basics." Added Braswell: "Our confidence level's not very high right now."
CSUN shot 47 percent overall while UC Irvine was held to 43. The Anteaters made 8 of 18 3-pointers.
The Matadors' next game is against Seattle University on Monday.
"We got to find a way to get a win," Braswell said.
Updated: 01/07/2010 11:56:33 PM PST
Confidence is not at an all-time high for the two-time defending Big West Conference champion Cal State Northridge men's basketball team, especially after its latest loss, 65-62 at home to UC Irvine on Thursday night.
The loss was the seventh consecutive for the Matadors (4-10, 0-3 Big West) - a career worst for CSUN coach Bobby Braswell - and dropped them to 0-3 in the conference.
"We got ourselves a hole," Braswell said. "Especially not winning at home."
The Matadors had countless chances especially in crunch time.
Trailing 63-62 with the ball and 16.4 seconds to go, Braswell called a timeout to set up a potential winner. Guard Mark Hill threw the ball into forward Lenny Daniel in the post, but Daniel's layup was short.
Irvine (8-7, 2-1) corralled the rebound with six seconds to go, made two free throws, forced Vinnie McGhee into one last missed 3-pointer and called it a night.
It was just one of many 3-point misses for the Matadors, who went 2-of-9 from beyond the arc.
But it wasn't just 3-pointers, it was also free throws. CSUN missed 12 of 30.
"It's all confidence right now," said Hill, who missed four freebies and shot 1 of 6 overall for eight points. "You miss one and they start (coming off)."
Misses and missed opportunities, along with a balanced Anteater attack (five UCI players scored in double figures, led by forward Eric Wise with 14 points), doomed CSUN.
"Our team just has mental baggage, losses are piling up and guys are trying to make plays," said CSUN forward Willie Galick, who led the Matadors with 15 points. "We need to get back to the basics." Added Braswell: "Our confidence level's not very high right now."
CSUN shot 47 percent overall while UC Irvine was held to 43. The Anteaters made 8 of 18 3-pointers.
The Matadors' next game is against Seattle University on Monday.
"We got to find a way to get a win," Braswell said.