Northridge Edges Weber State

By VINCE KOWALICK

March 9, 2000 12 AM PT

From Staff and Wire Reports

MISSOULA, Mont. — Cal State Northridge brought its best game to the opening round of the Big Sky Conference tournament.

Weber State brought its best players--but little game.

Northridge, in a progressively overpowering performance, slowed Big Sky scoring leader Harold Arceneaux, shut down sidekick Eddie Gill and advanced to the semifinals with a 73-68 victory over Weber State on Wednesday before 3,522 at Adams Center.

The Matadors (19-9)--after defeating Weber State for the second time in three games--will play top-seeded Montana (17-10) in a semifinal Friday night. Northern Arizona (18-10) will play Eastern Washington (15-11) in the other semifinal. The championship game is Saturday night. The tournament champion advances to the NCAA tournament.

“This is a little bit of redemption for us after [losing in the first round] last year,” Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell said.

Arceneaux, the Big Sky’s most valuable player last season, and Gill, a senior guard, combined for 70 points in a 113-92 victory over Northridge at Weber State in January.

Wednesday, Arceneaux scored a game-high 26 but was held to nine in the second half, including a meaningless layup with four seconds to play. Arceneaux made nine of 16 shots.

Gill scored only four points and was one of 13 shooting.

“You get two guys like that who can score a bunch and you’re just fortunate to be able to keep them in check,” Braswell said.

Forward Andre Larry, who did not play in the Matadors’ loss at Weber State, scored 20 points, including four three-point baskets in six attempts. Larry rejoined the team last month after missing three games because of personal reasons, but he has been slow to return to form.

Wednesday, Braswell inserted Larry into the starting lineup and the 6-foot-9 senior responded with 10 first-half points, including a dunk to give the Matadors their first lead, 19-17.

Markus Carr led Northridge with 23 points and Marco McCain had 11.

“This year, we have a lot of fire in us,” Larry said. “We didn’t want to go home early.”

Fourth-seeded Weber State (18-10)--the defending tournament champion--recorded a first-round upset of North Carolina in last season’s NCAA tournament, thanks to a 36-point performance by Arceneaux.

Braswell, who was ejected in the loss at Weber State, said the Matadors’ strategy was to focus on Arceneaux.

“All week we called it Arceneaux awareness,” Braswell said. “He got in some open areas and he hurt us. He’s going to get his.”