Titans Fail to Hold Lead, Lose to Eastern Illinois

Cal State Fullerton let a five-point, second-half lead slip away for the second consecutive game and lost to Eastern Illinois, 58-57, Thursday night before 3,198 in Lantz Gym.

It wasn’t a complete collapse for Fullerton, which saw Butler turn a five-point deficit with seven minutes left into a 100-83 victory Tuesday night.

The Titans had a chance to win, but Joe Small’s jump shot from the free-throw line with five seconds left was tipped by Panther forward Barry Johnson and fell short of the basket. Eastern Illinois (4-0) grabbed the rebound and ran out the clock.

Fullerton (1-2) led, 53-48, with 5:50 remaining, but Panther reserve forward David Olson, who had missed all seven of his field-goal attempts, made two consecutive three-pointers to give Eastern Illinois a 54-53 lead with 3:07 left.

The Titans came back on Bruce Bowen’s two free throws and Small’s jump shot with 1:44 left to take a 57-54 lead, but the Panthers answered with Curtis Leib’s inside basket to make it 57-56 with 1:24 to go.

With 28 seconds left, Fullerton point guard Aaron Sunderland missed the front end of a one-and-one situation. Eastern Illinois’ Leib grabbed the rebound and fell on top of Fullerton’s J.D. Green in the key.

But instead of Leib being called for traveling, Green was cited for fouling Panther guard Steve Rowe. Rowe made two foul shots with 26 seconds left.