Matadors Could Be Right at Home in Tournament

An inconsistent team searching for certainties, Cal State Northridge can be reasonably sure of this in its Fresno tournament opener Monday against Long Island University:

At least one of the teams will probably score 100 points.

Long Island (4-6), boasting two of the nation’s most publicized players, has scored at least 100 in each victory and surrendered as much in every loss.

Senior guard Charlie Jones, the nation’s leading scorer last season, averages 31 points a game and sophomore guard Richie Parker averages 19.9. Senior forward Mike Campbell can also find the basket, averaging 19.2 points and 7.4 rebounds.

Northridge (2-5) returned from a trip to Ohio this week frustrated because the Matadors felt officials blew whistles any time a defender came within breathing distance of an opponent.

The Matadors should breathe easier in the tournament, which also includes Fresno State and North Florida. Long Island and Fresno State employ up-tempo offenses and pressure defenses similar to Northridge, so officials probably will let everyone run-and-gun.

Some describe Long Island, which qualified for the NCAA tournament last season, as a New York street team in college uniforms. Jones and Parker are playground legends.

Parker was set to play at Fresno City College last season before becoming eligible at Long Island, and is a close friend of Fresno State point guard Rafer Alston, another New York City playground product.

Parker appears to be rebounding well from earlier troubles. In 1994, he had his letter of intent to Seton Hall revoked because he was convicted of sexual assault.

“Parker and Jones are big-time scorers,” Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell said. “We will have to stay on them on defense for 40 minutes.”

When the Blackbirds begin to bury a team, they don’t put down the shovels until the job is done. Long Island defeated Medgar Evers College, 179-82.

“They are a different kind of team than we are used to playing,” Braswell said. “I’m sure it will be interesting game.”

Fresno State (3-5) should have an easy time with North Florida (1-2), a Division II team. Chris Herren, who has missed some games with a “recurring personal problem,” averages 14 points for the Bulldogs.

They have others with talent.

In addition to Alston, who is averaging 12.2 points, Terrance Roberson (13.9), Cal transfer Tremaine Fowlkes (10.3), and USC transfer Avondre Jones (14.2) have scoring averages in double figures.

Northridge guard Derrick Higgins will continue to sit out with a stress fracture in his right foot. Higgins, who averages 10.2 points and 2.4 steals, has missed two games.

Freshman Carl Holmes filled in ably, scoring 21 against Ohio State and 20 against Ohio. The Matadors have more problems in the post, where only Jabari Simmons is playing well at the moment.

Brian Hagens, a junior transfer from New Orleans, made his Northridge debut last week but scored only two points in 14 minutes. Freshman Brian Heinle, productive in earlier games, is struggling with his defense, and senior Kevin Taylor has scored only 21 points all season.

Jeff Parris had a season-high 17 points two weeks ago against Loyola Marymount, but he also struggled on the recent trip.

“We need to get production out of those guys, but more importantly they need to play good defense and not give up easy baskets,” Braswell said.