San Diego Defeats Fullerton

Cal State Fullerton’s four-game winning streak and its hope for a winning nonconference record slipped away in the second half against San Diego Saturday night.

The Toreros wiped out a 12-point Fullerton lead early in the second half and beat the Titans, 78-72, in front of 2,275 at the USD Sports Center.

The Titans (5-6) made only one field goal during one stretch of slightly more than 10 minutes, but trailed only 70-68 with two minutes remaining after Ike Harmon made two consecutive baskets.

“You can’t go that long of a time without putting some numbers on the board,” Titan Coach Bob Hawking said.

Harmon lost another basket when he was called for traveling with slightly more than three minutes to go. “That’s a move I make all the time, but the referee said I moved my pivot foot,” Harmon said.

The key score, however, was a falling, off-balance layup by San Diego’s Dana White with 1:48 left. He was fouled and made the free throw to give the Toreros a 73-68 lead. A jump shot by Harmon cut the deficit to three points with 48 seconds left, but the Titans didn’t get any closer.

Strong inside play by Cameron Rigby led San Diego (9-4) to its sixth victory without a loss at home this season.

Rigby had 21 points and 11 rebounds. Harmon led Fullerton with 22 points and nine rebounds.

The game was a striking contrast in each half. Fullerton shot 56% in the first half and 32.4% in the second to finish at 42.4%.

San Diego shot 28.6% in the first half but 57.7% in the second to finish at 39.7%.

“We did a terrible job on Fullerton’s transition game in the first half,” San Diego Coach Brad Holland said.

Fullerton scored nine consecutive points and outscored the Toreros, 14-2, during one stretch in the first half. The Titans led by 11 points with 7 1/2 minutes remaining in the half after guard Kenroy Jarrett connected on his second three-pointer of the half, and they led, 40-32, at halftime.

San Diego, however, went on a quick 13-2 run to get back into the game in the second half.

“They hit the shots in the second half that they weren’t hitting in the first half,” Hawking said. “We felt we needed to control their inside game and stop their penetration, and we were able to do that in the first half.”

San Diego had a 45-40 rebounding advantage. Fullerton has out-rebounded only three of its 11 opponents.

Fullerton was able to take advantage of its fast break in the first half, but had trouble getting rolling in the second half.

“The best way to break is on a turnover, and the second-best way is on a rebound, but San Diego was making its shots in the second half and that made it more difficult,” Hawking said.

Harmon said he was pleased with the effort the team made despite the loss.

“Even though we lost, we’re making progress in how we’re playing on the road,” Harmon said. “Everyone made a good effort in this game.”