COLLEGE BASKETBALL / SOUTHLAND

CS Fullerton 82, Loyola Marymount 71--The Titans, who lost their first four games for the first time since the 1970-71 season, stopped the bleeding with a victory at Titan Gym.

It was the fourth consecutive loss to a Big West Conference team for the Lions (1-4). They were beaten by Pacific, Boise State and UC Irvine previously.

Senior forward Ike Harmon, held to 25 points in the previous three games, led the way for Fullerton with 29 points, including 20 in the first half. It was the second best scoring effort of his Titan career.

The Titans also got a boost from an unexpected return by center Matt Caldwell, who had been sidelined because of a sprained ankle. Caldwell had 14 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes. Mark Murphy scored 18 points and Kenroy Jarrett 15, all in the second half.

“For Caldwell to give us that many minutes was a big part of the game,” Titan Coach Bob Hawking said. “I didn’t expect him to play based on what I’d seen in yesterday’s practice. He was still on crutches two days ago, but our trainers did a good job of getting him back.”

Fullerton led by only four points with slightly more than two minutes left before Jarrett connected on a three-point shot, then scored for a 73-64 lead with 1:15 left. Jarrett had nine points in the last two minutes.

“Jarrett and Murphy had real good games,” Hawking said. “They both had some big shots that carried us down the stretch. And Harmon’s effort in the first half was outstanding. They went to the zone in the second half to try to limit him.”

Curtis Slaughter led Loyola with 21 points, 16 in the second half.