Men's Basketball
    Cal State Northridge Upsets USC In Overtime, 81-76
    Nick Young led Trojans with 18 points.
    USC's Jeremy Barr, center, and Ryan Francis defend during the first half. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
    USC's Jeremy Barr, center, and Ryan Francis defend during the first half. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

    Nov. 20, 2005

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    LOS ANGELES (AP) - Mike Efevberha scored 20 points and Cal State Northridge surprised Southern California 81-76 in overtime Sunday, spoiling Tim Floyd's debut as coach of the Trojans.

    Floyd is back in college basketball after a seven-year absence, during which he coached in the NBA with Chicago and New Orleans.

    The Matadors (1-0) beat the Trojans for the first time in five meetings. It was second victory by a Big West team over the Pac-10 in as many days, with UC Irvine stunning No. 13 Stanford 79-63 Saturday.

    Nick Young led USC with 18 points and matched a career high with 10 rebounds. It was his first career double-double. Freshman RouSean Cromwell added 17 points and 12 rebounds. His 12 rebounds were the most by a USC freshman since Sam Clancy grabbed 14 boards on Feb. 6, 1999 in his freshman campaign

    Jonathan Heard scored Northridge's first five points in overtime, and finished with 15.

    Keith Everage scored with one second left on the shot clock to keep the Matadors ahead 77-74. Gabe Pruitt missed two jumpers in the final minute for the Trojans, who opened their last season in the aging Sports Arena before moving to a new on-campus building.

    In regulation, Sead Odzic hit a 3-pointer from the left side to get USC within one with 25 seconds left.

    Northridge's Bakari Altheimer got fouled and made one of two for a 70-68 lead. Pruitt was called for traveling on a drive to the basket with 10 seconds to go.


     

     

    Efevberha missed a foul shot, the Trojans rebounded and Cromwell dunked with eight-tenths of a second left to force overtime tied at 70.

    Young's 3-pointer gave USC its largest lead, 27-22, in the first half. The Matadors then outscored USC 19-5 to end the half ahead 42-32.

    The Trojans never led in the second half.