CS Fullerton gets past UC Riverside for sweep

FULLERTON >> Cal State Fullerton coach Dedrique Taylor doesn’t have time to scan the Big West Conference standings on a daily basis.

He’s too busy getting ready for his next opponent.

The Titans passed another test on Saturday night when they knocked off UC Riverside 64-58 at Titan Gym.

Fullerton (13-12, 7-6 Big West) still sits outside the top half of the 12-team conference standings, but the Titans have shown they can beat the teams ahead of them, posting their second win against UCR (15-9, 8-4) this season and last week knocking off second-place UC Irvine (15-8, 8-3).

“Literally, it’s a one-game season,” Taylor said. “All I care about is advancing, just trying to take care of business to win the next one. I’ll enjoy this one until midnight and then I’m turning my sights to the University of Hawaii.”

The Titans spun their most recent game around with an 11-0 run that gave them a 5548 lead with 3:58 left.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who missed the first 10 minutes of the game after injuring his hip in the opening seconds, missed eight of his first nine shots before scoring 12 of his 16 points in the final 7½ minutes to provide

CAL STATE FULLERTON 64, UC RIVERSIDE 58

THE SCORE

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Fullerton the boost needed down the stretch.

“I think the injury took him out of rhythm a little bit and then he finally got himself going,” Taylor said. “He showed up when we needed him most and that’s what good players do.”

Max Jones also scored 16 points for the Titans and Tory San Antonio finished with 12.

UCR had just one player reach double figures in scoring.

Lachlan Olbrich, who had two fouls in the first 90 seconds and three with 13:07 left in the first half, scored all 10 of his points in the second half for the Highlanders.

Zyon Pullin, who came in leading UCR in scoring at 19.2 ppg, shot 2-for-13 from the floor and scored eight points.

“You’re just not going to win many games when he shoots 2-for-13,” Riverside coach Mike Magpayo said. “They did a great job, they were bringing help — two, three guys.”

Fullerton won the first meeting against UCR 77-62 on Jan. 5, but the Highlanders were without Pullin, who was out with an ankle injury. it