Short-Handed Titans Have Enough to Handle Anteaters

It was Cal State Fullerton’s sixth consecutive victory over three seasons against UC Irvine--but it didn’t come easy Saturday night at Titan Gym.

The Titans gave up a school-record 16 three-point baskets and had to struggle down to the end for a 104-97 victory against an Irvine team that lost its 11th consecutive game.

Irvine Coach Pat Douglass was quick to point out that his team scored more points than it had in its last two games combined. But it still wasn’t enough on a night when the Titans made 38 of 46 free throws and eight of 11 three-point shots.

Three Fullerton players--Ike Harmon, Mark Murphy and Brandon Campbell--had career scoring highs. Harmon finished with 33 points, making 15 of 17 free throws.

Murphy, who replaced injured Kenroy Jarrett at point guard, made four of five three-point shots to finish with 21 points. Campbell was five of 11 from the field and finished with 14. Matt Caldwell also had 14, all in the first half.

Jason Cunningham, who had started 20 of 22 games this season for the Titans, was held out of the game because of what was called a “coach’s decision” by Coach Bob Hawking. It apparently involved Cunningham being late for a pregame shoot-around earlier Saturday.

But the Titans (12-10, 6-6) were able to survive without either Cunningham or Jarrett even though the Anteaters (5-17, 1-11) shot 50% from the floor and tied a school record for three-pointers.

Sophomore forward Ben Jones made a career-high seven three-point shots in eight attempts to finish with a team-high 28 points, also a career high. Adam Stetson was four of six on three-pointers and finished with 22 points.

Harmon partially blocked the one three-point shot Jones missed, with 11.4 seconds left.

Fullerton was leading only 101-97 at the time, but the Titans added to their lead in the final seconds on a free throw by reserve Josh Fischer and two more free throws by Harmon with four seconds left.

“Harmon made the big shots when they needed them,” Douglass said. “And Murphy made some big three-point shots. Ben Jones had a great night for us, and kept us in the game.”

Harmon said he felt the need for a strong effort.

“I knew we were short-handed,” Harmon said. “With Kenroy and Jason out, I knew I had to have a big game. Murphy’s not really a point guard, but he did the best he could. And Brandon had a great game with Jason out. Hopefully, everything will be resolved with Jason and he’ll be back in the starting lineup for our next game. He came late for the shoot-around today, and that’s why he didn’t play.”

Hawking thought it was one of Harmon’s top efforts.

“He was at his best,” Hawking said. “That was a big block he had against Jones at the end of the game. But we had good contributions from a lot of guys.”

There were 55 fouls called, 31 on Irvine and 24 on Fullerton, and the two teams shot a combined 77 free throws.

“Division I basketball is a physical sport and I think 77 free throws is in excess of what most people want to see,” Hawking said. “Our game plan was to go inside but the foul problems we had affected that.”

While the Titans were without Cunningham, Irvine was without Gabe Cagwin, who led the Anteaters with 15 points in Thursday’s loss at Utah State. Cagwin was suspended for one game for a violation of team policy on the Utah State trip.

Fouls troubled the Titans early. Caldwell had 14 points while playing only 11 minutes in the first half. He picked up his third foul and sat out the final 5 minutes 34 seconds of the half.

Mark Richardson also went to the bench with his third foul a minute later but Murphy connected on two three-pointers and Ike Harmon four consecutive free throws to keep the Titans in control at the break.

Fullerton led by as many as 15 points early in the second half, but the Titans weren’t able to put Irvine away.