Dec. 17, 2005
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NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Illinois State nailed six three-point field goals in the final 1:35 of the game to erase a 13-point deficit, but Dana Ford's final attempt at a game-winner bounced off the front of the rim and Cal State-Northridge walked away with a 73-69 nonconference win at the Matadome Saturday night.
With the loss, Illinois State falls to 5-3 overall, while Cal State-Northridge improves to 5-3.
The Matadors took the first decisive run of the game with a 13-4 spurt at the start of the second half, including nine points by Mike Efevberha, and held a 51-41 lead with 9:28 remaining in the contest. The Redbirds chipped away at the double-digit deficit and closed the gap to 51-44 with 5:50 on the clock.
The Matadors rattled off six straight points and regained a 57-44 lead, setting up the three-point heroics by Illinois State. Nedu Onyeuku buried the first of six threes at the 1:35 mark as the Redbirds closed to within 60-54. Following a jumper and free throw by Efevberha, Ford dropped in a trey to bring the deficit back to six points at 63-57.
CSUN's Jonathan Heard sank a pair of free throws to extend the margin to 65-57, but a Brandon Holtz three-pointer made the score 65-60. After Efevberha missed one of his free throw attempts on back-to-back two-shot trips to the line, three-pointers by Onyeuku and Neil Plank closed the gap to 67-66 with 26 seconds on the clock.
Efevberha was fouled again, but made both charity attempts, however Ford's three-pointer from atop the key forced a 69-69 tie with 20 seconds left in the game. On the ensuing play, Holtz put pressure on Efevberha in the corner of the court on a trap, but was whistled for the foul. The Matador's leading scorer stepped to the line and sank both free throw attempts for his 27th point of the night, including 23 in the second half. Ford launched another three-pointer from the left wing for the win, but it bounced short off the rim. CSUN's Thomas Shewmake was fouled and hit a pair of free throws for the final margin.
The two teams battled to a 30-30 tie in the first frame amidst six lead changes. The Redbird defense stifled the Matadors, including Efevberha, who was held to 1-for-6 shooting and four points in the first half. CSUN countered its 36.4 first half field goal percentage with a 12-for-12 effort from the foul line on ISU's 10 personal fouls. Holtz led the charge for the Redbirds with a career-best eight points in the initial frame, including six points off a pair of treys.
Holtz finished with a career-best 11 points, while Ford led the Redbirds with 15 points and Onyeuku added 14. Plank finished with 10 points, a team high seven rebounds and seven assists.
Illinois State returns to action on Thursday when the Redbirds open up Missouri Valley Conference play at Indiana State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CST.
