Texas State (1-1) Vs. Cal State Northridge (0-2)
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GAME NOTES: In an effort to finally get into the win column, the Cal State Northridge Matadors continue their participation in the NIT Season Tip-Off in Tempe, Arizona as they face off against the Texas State Bobcats.
The Matadors began the 2009-10 campaign with an 89-64 setback to Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana on Friday, and then followed that up with an 83-65 loss to TCU in this event last night.
As for the Bobcats, they've already got a tally in the win column thanks to a 102-67 demolition of Howard Payne last week in San Marcos. However, Texas State also tasted defeat on Monday as it bowed to Arizona State in the first round of this event, 84-62.
The winner of this first-ever meeting will head to New York City next week to continue in the tournament.
Trying to keep up with Arizona State, Texas State teed off on 16 shots from three-point range in the first half, but made only three en route to the 22- point loss on the road. Cameron Johnson didn't even attempt a single three- point shot, but still finished with a team-best 14 points, the only player in double figures as it turns out. Shooting only 15-of-24 at the free-throw line certainly didn't help matters, yet that still wasn't as bad as turning the ball over 27 times. In the first game of the season against Howard Payne, it was a complete team effort for the Bobcats as five players scored in double figures, starting with Uriel Segura with his 15 points, followed by Johnson, John Rybak and John Bowman with 12 points apiece and Dylan Hale who flagged down 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting behind the three-point line. Texas State was not shy about letting fly with 30 shots from three-point range in the opener, hitting 12, but really the team should have practiced more at the free-throw line where they converted just 20-of-36.
The Matadors made a mere eight field goals in the first half and were a miserable 1-of-9 behind the three-point line, which is why they were caught trailing by 23 points at the break against TCU yesterday. Kenny Daniels posted 14 points for Northridge and Lenny Daniel chipped in 11 points and a team-best eight rebounds. However, converting only 34.5 percent from the floor and 3- of-17 beyond the arc, coupled with 22 turnovers, kept the Matadors from really being competitive. Points have been hard to come by in the first two games of the season for the Matadors, averaging just 64.5 ppg while giving up 86.0 ppg. Kevin Menner and Daniels are the lone double-digit scorers for the group with 13.0 and 12.0 ppg, respectively, although Menner's average could be higher were it not for his 4-of-11 performance at the free-throw line. The team as a whole is shooting just 59.5 percent at the stripe, 6-of-31 beyond the arc and 36.5 percent from the field.
Northridge hasn't shown that much bite in the first two games, but this might be the perfect opportunity, against an opponent like the Bobcats, for the Matadors to grab their first win of the season.
Predicted OutcomeCal State Northridge 69, Texas State 63Copyright 2009 Courtesy of The Sports Network.
