NCAA Game Summary - Cal State Northridge vs. Long Beach State

Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Stephan Hicks scored 27 points and hit a perfect 13-of-13 from the free-throw line as his Cal State Northridge Matadors edged out the Long Beach State 49ers, 82-77, in the semifinal round of the Big West Conference Tournament at the Honda Center.

Josh Greene netted 21 points with four rebounds and five assists for seventh- seeded CS Northridge (17-17), which will advance to the Big West Tournament championship game Saturday to face the fifth-seeded Cal Poly Mustangs. Stephen Maxwell tallied a double-double in the win Friday with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Tre Hale-Edmerson added 11 points of his own.

Mike Caffey scored 19 points on 5-of-21 shooting to pace Long Beach State (15-17), while Tyler Lamb and A.J. Spencer each chipped in 16 points in the loss. David Samuels contributed a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds for the 49ers.

Cal State Northridge dominated in the first half, netting 54.8 percent of its shot attempts from the floor, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range. The Matadors took a convincing 44-32 lead into the locker rooms at the intermission after Long Beach State shot just 38.5 percent from the field, including 3-of-11 from 3-point distance.

The teams flip-flopped their success in the second half, as the Matadors netted 33.3 percent of their field goal tries, including 0-of-5 from deep, while the 49ers hit on 50 percent of their shots in the period. But a 22-6 edge at the free-throw line in the half for the Matadors saved their season, especially when the score was tight down the stretch.

CS Northridge held the edge from the charity stripe in the contest, 28-15, and had more makes (28) than Long Beach State had attempts (25). The Matadors also had a slight advantage in rebounding, 37-30. The 49ers won the battle in points off turnovers, 16-8.