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Seattle knocks off Cal State Northridge 74-64

Jan 20, 2010 - 5:25 AM By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE(AP) -- Chris Gweth scored eight of his 12 points during a 20-8 second-half run to give Seattle the lead for good, and the Redhawks pulled away from Cal State Northridge in the final minutes for a 74-64 win on Tuesday night.

Cervante Burrell led Seattle (9-11) with 17 as the Redhawks won their second straight after dropping six of their previous seven.

Down 35-31 early in the second half, Seattle leading scorer Charles Garcia picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench. While the versatile 6-foot-10 NBA prospect was on the bench, the Redhawks ran off 20 of the next 28 points to take a 51-43 lead.

The Matadors closed within 52-51 on Vinnie McGhee's 3-pointer with 7:52 left, but could never regain the lead. Cal State Northridge beat Seattle 98-90 at home just eight days earlier.

Kenny Daniels led the Matadors (7-11) with 21 points.

Seattle won its second straight game with Garcia in a limited role. In the Redhawks' 66-63 win over Utah Valley on Saturday, Garcia was benched for most of the second half by coach Cameron Dollar for lapses on defense.

This time it was foul trouble that did in Garcia. The junior had just converted a nifty up-and-under layup for his 11th point when he was slow on defense and picked up his third foul. Less than a minute later, Daniels got Garcia off his feet with a shot fake and initiated the fourth foul.

Then Gweth took control. His eight points, combined with key 3s from Taylor Olson and Alex Jones, helped the Redhawks build an eight-point advantage.

The Matadors were still within 63-60 with 4 minutes left, but Burrell scored off a Northridge turnover and Aaron Broussard scored five straight - a 3-pointer and tip-in - and the Redhawks' lead was comfortably back to 10.

Broussard had 12 points for Seattle. Garcia finished with 13 points - eight below his season average - and grabbed 12 rebounds in 21 minutes.

Kevin Menner added 12 for the Matadors, who saw a three-game win streak snapped.

The Matadors played their second straight road game without head coach Bobby Braswell, who is staying off the road to tend to a family emergency at home. Braswell also missed Northridge's 78-72 win at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday.