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Date Posted: 11:50:08 01/31/02 Thu
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Northridge Tonight

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Originally Published Thursday, January 31, 2002
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Tigers look for revenge

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

University of the Pacific guard Jono Metzger-Jones didn't bat an eye before offering a theme for tonight's men's basketball game with Cal State Northridge.

''Pay back, definitely,'' the senior said. ''This is a huge game for us.''

Junior point guard Demetrius Jackson, not wanting to provide bulletin board fodder for his opponent said, ''I don't want to say revenge, but it's a chance for us to get a win back.''

The Tigers (13-6, 5-4 Big West) were ambushed by the aggressive, quick and athletic Matadors (8-10, 7-2) in a 70-59 loss on Jan. 5 at the Matadome. The Tigers committed 24 turnovers and Cal State Northridge grabbed 17 offensive rebounds.

Since then, the Matadors, who are new to the conference this season, have won five of six and are tied atop the conference standings with UC Irvine, while Pacific has been up and down and is tied with Cal Poly for fifth.

The Tigers, 4-0 at home in conference and 8-1 at home overall, need to win to retain any reasonable hope of earning the Big West regular-season championship.

Pacific coach Bob Thomason knows what his team must do once the game starts at 7 p.m.

''The first thing we have to do is take care of the ball,'' Thomason said. ''Our team is not that bad to commit 24 turnovers. They caused us problems.''

The Matador who inflicted the most damage was senior guard Markus Carr, whom Thomason called, ''one of the best point guards in the conference.'' Carr harassed Pacific's playmakers to the tune of 11 points and eight steals in their previous meeting. He had more steals in that game than Pacific has surrendered in 17 games this season.

''He's talented, not one dimensional,'' Jackson said of Carr. ''He knows how to get his team involved, and his team relies on him to get a bucket when they need one. From what I know, he's their team leader and someone we have to guard to win.''

Pacific's backcourt will play an important role handling Cal State Northridge's full- and half-court traps and aggressive man-to-man defense. The Matadors also trap out of their 1-3-1 zone defense. The Tigers' big guys will be a factor, especially on the glass. Cal State Northridge outrebounded Pacific 42-30 and forwards Lionel Benjamin and Curtis Slaughter combined for 19 points and 15 rebounds.

''They force you to play without an offense, and to do that, you have to use your fundamentals,'' Thomason said. ''You have to attack them, but you have to be patient.''

This will be the Tigers' lone game this week. They will play at UC Santa Barbara next Thursday and at Cal Poly next Saturday.

* To reach reporter Bob Highfill, phone 546-8299 or e-mail bhighfill

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