Titans arise in second half
The years drifted past, but Cal State Fullerton seemed too much an observer rather than a genuine participant.
In the last six years of the Big West Conference tournament, the Titans were winless in five trips.
That struggle finally changed Thursday when the Titans put together a strong second half, storming past Cal State Northridge, 81-68, in the opening round of the tournament at Honda Center.
A Fullerton team that lost four of its first six conference games has won seven of its last eight games. The Titans will attempt to continue their turnaround against No. 2-seeded UC Davis on Friday in a semifinal.
Despite playing without Big West freshman of the year Jackson Rowe (left foot injury), the Titans had plenty of offense, getting 24-point games from Kyle Allman and Lionheart Leslie, and 21 points from Tre’ Coggins.
“In the second half we found our rhythm on defense and that led to getting our rhythm on offense,” said Titans Coach Dedrique Taylor. “The one thing they get excited about is if they get stops, it leads to fastbreaks.”
The Titans (17-13) outscored Northridge 16-4 on fastbreak points. After Northridge (11-19) took a 4137 lead at halftime, Fullerton opened the second half with a 22-4 run, rolling past the Matadors and finding its range from beyond the arc.
“I thought we played a good half of basketball,” said Northridge Coach Reggie Theus. “Then we came back in the second half and our defensive energy just wasn’t where it was in the first half.”
Northridge picked up 21 points from Kendall Smith, but after quickly falling behind by 14 to start the second half, it could never recover.
In addition to his 24 points, Leslie finished with six assists, six steals and three rebounds.
UC Irvine 76, UC Riverside 67: The Highlanders cut a 14-point second-half deficit to three with less than nine minutes to play, but the regular-season champion Anteaters took control down the stretch.
Irvine (20-13) picked up 19 points from Luke Nelson and Jaron Martin. Riverside (7-21) was led by Secean Johnson’s 22 points. Irvine made only five of 23 threepoint attempts, but outrebounded Riverside 45-28.
UC Davis 66, Cal Poly 55: Chima Moneke led Davis (20-12) with 18 rebounds and 11 points, while Brynton Lemar paced the Aggies in scoring with 18 points. Davis held Cal Poly (11-20) to 34.5% shooting from the field. Ridge Shipley led the Mustangs with 19 points.
Long Beach State 73, Hawaii 62: The 49ers (15-18) held the Rainbow Warriors (14-16) without a field goal for 7 minutes 19 seconds late in the second half, going on a 17-2 run. Long Beach’s Justin Bibbins scored 27 points.