Willard, Smith combine for 39 points; Pacific blows out Cal State Northridge 66-47

Willard, Smith lead Pacific past Northridge 66-47

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Sam Willard scored 14 of his 20 points in a decisive first half, and Terrell Smith had a career-best 19 points as Pacific closed out the regular season with a 66-47 victory Saturday over Cal State Northridge.

Willard scored eight points in the Tigers’ 17-5 run to start the game, and Smith scored five points as part of a 12-0 run that gave Pacific (20-10, 12-4 Big West) a 31-16 first-half lead. The Tigers led 35-21 at the half and built the lead to as many as 24 in the second half.

Pacific enters the Big West tournament as the No. 2 seed and gets a bye into the conference semifinals on Friday.

Kenny Daniels scored 17 points and Willie Galick had 13 for Northridge (11-20, 6-10), which is the No. 8 seed and faces No. 5 seed Cal State Fullerton in the first round of the Big West tournament on Wednesday.