Titans Push Anteaters Even Lower

DeVaughn Wright and his Cal State Fullerton teammates can breath a little easier this morning. The chances of being overtaken by UC Irvine--something that was pretty much unthinkable a few weeks back--are a whole lot slimmer now.

“It was getting pretty close there,” Wright said. “We needed to get some distance.”

Fullerton did, at last, by tying a school record with 12 three-pointers in an 84-69 victory Thursday in front of 739 at Titan Gym. It gave the Titans a sweep in the series for the first time since 1991-92. It was also only the second victory for Fullerton in six games since leading scorer John Williams sustained a broken wrist.

Fullerton (11-10, 4-7) now leads Irvine (1-19, 1-10) by three games in the Big West Conference’s Western Division with five to play.

“We haven’t got losing John completely out of our minds,” said guard Chris Dade, who scored a game-high 22 points. “But if we can get to the [conference] tournament, we can beat anybody. With John or without him.”

They certainly proved they can beat Irvine without Williams. But the Anteaters are not likely to be in the tournament. Fullerton took care of that.

Both Titan victories in the last three weeks have been against the Anteaters, who were still clinging to hopes of making the conference tournament. It made Thursday’s “showdown” significant, at least by Irvine standards this season. Coach Rod Baker went so far to call it a “monster game” Wednesday.

It wasn’t until the last 10 minutes that the Anteaters played like it.

The Titans matched their biggest lead, 64-42, with 13 minutes 7 seconds left and were still up by 19 when the Anteaters made their one, and only, run. For a seven minutes they did things they have rarely done this season.

Juma Jackson made clutch baskets, scoring eight of his team-high 21 points. Irvine, which has shot 58% from the foul line this season, made seven of seven free throws. The Anteaters, who had 30 turnovers in three games this season, even took care of the basketball, turning the ball over once during the 22-10 run.

Wendell Robinson’s layup and free throw with 3:56 left pulled the Anteaters to within 74-64.

“We wanted to get back in the game in increments,” Baker said. “We wanted to be at a certain point at each time out. We wanted to be at 10 with four minutes left and we did it.”

But they got no closer.

Josh Leighton’s layup and free throw gave Fullerton a 79-65 lead. Wright then barely beat the shot clock with a five-footer.

“It was just too much to overcome,” Baker said.

It got that way because of the Titans’ shooting.

Fullerton made nine of 17 three-pointers in the first half and led, 50-31. The Titans made six threes in the first seven minutes and led, 22-8.

Irvine was one of six from three-point range for the game.

“When you make your shots, you can control the game,” Baker said.

Dade certainly did. He made four of six three-pointers and had 15 points in the first half. It wasn’t the first time he has burned Irvine without help from Williams.

Last season, Dade had a career-high 28 points in an 81-73 Fullerton victory. Three weeks ago, he scored 18 in an 89-57 victory. Both games were with Williams sidelined.

“Coach Baker recruited me back in high school and helped me get my grades straight,” Dade said. “I guess this isn’t the way to pay him back.”

Dade scored the first seven points of the second half, then missed his last seven shots. His teammates took it from there.

Wright had a career-high nine points. Leighton had 10 points to match his career high, set against Irvine earlier this season. Ali Nayab scored 13 points.

Lamarr Parker scored 19, 13 in the second half, for Irvine.