Long Beach Beats Fullerton in Overtime, 70-69

Cal State Fullerton was trying to break a four-game losing streak and keep its record from slipping below .500.

Cal State Long Beach was trying to get its 16th victory, three more than the 49ers had all last season when they went 13-15. They were also trying to avenge an 11-point loss to the Titans earlier this season.

The 49ers were the ones who got what they were after, taking a 70-69 victory in overtime Monday night in a Big West Conference game at Titan Gym.

Long Beach, with the help of two three-point shots by Lucious Harris, had the ball and a one-point lead with less than a minute to play. But Wayne Williams stole the ball from Tyrone Mitchell with 42 seconds left, giving Fullerton one last chance.

Fullerton’s Van Anderson missed a leaning shot in the lane with less than five seconds left. After Fullerton center David Moody tipped the ball, Long Beach got the rebound.

With three seconds left in regulation, Long Beach had the ball with the score tied. But Harris lost the ball on the inbounds pass as he collided with Dareck Crane. That gave Fullerton the ball with one second left.

Fullerton inbounded the ball to Mark Hill, who threw the ball from 60 feet, but was way short, forcing the overtime.

Fullerton had trailed by two, 62-60, but had the ball with 35 seconds left. Cedric Ceballos drove the lane with 18 seconds left, but couldn’t make the shot fall. Williams got the rebound, and with 11 seconds left, he hit a leaning, 10-foot baseline jumper, tying the score, 62-62.

Long Beach, 16-7 overall and 8-6 in Big West play, was never able to pull ahead by more than four points in the first half, but started the second half by turning a one-point lead into a five-point lead on back-to-back baskets by Mitchell. Mitchell would have given Long Beach a six-point lead had he not missed the free-throw on a three-point opportunity.

As it did all evening, Fullerton (12-13, 6-10) kept coming back.

The Titans fell behind by six, but then Williams, who missed his first six three-point attempts, knocked one down to cut the lead to three.

Later, down by three, Ceballos broke away for a dunk, turning a three-point lead to one. And once more, down by four, Williams made a three-pointer to cut the lead to one.

Mark Hill, the Titans’ shooting guard who has played extremely well at times this season, has been struggling lately. He scored a career-low three points against UC Santa Barbara last Thursday night. Once averaging more than 20 points a game, Hill has averaged only 13.5 the past four.

But he came out shooting well Monday, making six of seven shots in the first half, including three of four three-pointers. By halftime, he had 18 points.

That was a good thing for the Titans. Without him, Fullerton was three of 16 from the field.

Ceballos, closely watched by the 49ers, attempted only three shots in the first half and had five points at halftime.

In spite of Hill’s shooting, Long Beach threatened to pull ahead late in the first half.

Rudy Harvey dunked off a spectacular save by Troy Joseph with seven minutes left in the half, tying the score, 22-22, and starting a run in which he would score eight of Long Beach’s next 10 points, staking the 49ers to a four-point lead.

Long Beach’s Mitchell added a basket, driving the lane for a layup. Then Mitchell made a steal, and passed ahead to Harvey, who gave Long Beach a 26-22 lead.

Fullerton cut the lead to two again on two free throws by Ceballos. But then Harvey hit two free throws for another four-point lead.

But Fullerton’s Moody responded with dunk of his own off a lob.

Long Beach held a 33-32 lead at the half.

Harris led Long Beach with 18 points, and Harvey added 16.

Hill scored 22 for Fullerton, and Ceballos added 18.