Titans Overcome in Overtime : Big West: Cal State Fullerton jumps off to big lead with seven players, but Pacific rallies, 76-69.

It was a close call as to which would evaporate first: Cal State Fullerton’s meager roster, the Titans’ lead or the game clock.

Two of the choices weren’t good for the Titans, and the odds finally caught up to them as Pacific scored a 76-69 overtime victory in Titan Gym on Saturday.

Despite senior Greg Vernon’s career-high 28 points, the Titans watched Pacific score the final eight points in overtime to seal its fifth consecutive Big West Conference victory.

With a combination of 16 points and 10 rebounds sitting on the bench in the persons of David Frigout (foot injury) and Darren Little (flu), the Titans (3-12, 1-6) stared at imminent disaster, put the ball in the air and--surprise--early on, it went in.

Again and again and again.

Somehow, while Coach Brad Holland jockeyed seven players, Fullerton was a step quicker and a lot sharper than Pacific most of the way. While the Titans held Pacific (11-7, 5-2) to 15% first-half shooting, James French, 0 for 12 in the last three games, nailed two jumpers to start, Vernon added two free throws and Winston Peterson added three more to make it 9-0.

The Titans eventually made it 13-1 and 23-12 before settling on a 34-21 halftime lead. Short-handed Fullerton, after its most inspired half of the season, walked off the court to a raucous standing ovation.