Fullerton Lets 21-Point Lead Dwindle but Still Wins, 98-94

Cal State Fullerton let a 21-point second-half lead dwindle to two in the last minute before pulling out a 98-94 victory over Portland at the Chiles Center on Saturday night.

Agee Ward scored a career-high 35 points, making 15 of 19 shots, and pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds to lead Fullerton (2-3). Forward Bruce Bowen added a career-high 28 points, including 19 during the second half.

Fullerton, with superior height inside, took a 74-53 lead with 11:18 left.

The Titans outrebounded Portland, 48-29, grabbing 20 offensive rebounds compared to the Pilots’ 12.

Portland (2-4) was in the game at the end because of poor free-throw shooting by the Titans, who made only five of 10 in the last 1:32, and sloppy ball-handling. The Titans committed 25 turnovers.

It marked Fullerton’s first road victory in 10 tries, dating to Jan. 2, when the Titans won at Fresno State.

Portland’s Uba Satterfield scored 22 points, including an off-balance three-pointer with 32 seconds left that cut Fullerton’s lead to 93-91. But Fullerton’s Joe Small made a long pass to Ward for a dunk, and Small made one of two free throws for a 96-91 lead with 14 seconds left.

Portland’s Peter McKelvy made a three-pointer with nine seconds to go to make the score 96-94. Small passed to Ward, but Ward was fouled. His two free throws with two seconds left secured the victory.