BASKETBALL : Faulk Meets Grade Requirements, and CLU Team Regains His Services

James Faulk, a 6-4 forward at Cal Lutheran, has been reinstated to the team after missing five games because of grade problems. Faulk, who had averaged 12 points and eight rebounds a game, needed at least a B in a sociology class during Cal Lutheran’s interim semester to regain his eligibility. After the semester ended Thursday, Faulk received a B+ and will play for the Kingsmen through the remainder of the season.

CLU was 1-4 during Faulk’s absence.

Paul Hobus, a reserve forward-center, will be back in action for the Cal State Northridge basketball team Friday after sitting out a two-game suspension.

Coach Pete Cassidy suspended Hobus for “disciplinary reasons” but reinstated the 6-6 senior after talking to him Wednesday.

Tuesday’s 85-75 win over Westmont marked the first time since the 1964-65 season that Cal Lutheran had beaten Westmont twice in the same year. The Kingsmen are the only team in the Golden State Athletic Conference to beat the Warriors (16-5, 4-2) this season.

Cal Lutheran made 40 of 54 free throws--both school records--and Westmont hit 19 of 24 from the line. Six players fouled out--four from Westmont and two from CLU.

Northridge plays host to 13th-ranked UC Riverside on Friday night and Cassidy is hopeful a few defensive adjustments will help put the clamps on 6-7 forward Robert Jimerson and 6-9 Paul Kapturkewicz, the Highlanders’ top scorers.

Northridge lost to Riverside, 67-61, in January in a game that was close throughout. Cassidy’s prediction about the rematch: “I always think we have a chance, but they’re a fine team. It stayed fairly close last time. They threatened to put us away a couple of times. The storm clouds were out, but the downpour never hit. This time maybe we’ll have nothing but sunshine all the way.”