Dillon’s Long-Range Heroics Fall Short

Cal State Fullerton freshman guard Ryan Dillon put on a three-point shooting show in the second half Wednesday night, but it wasn’t enough to produce a victory for the Titans.

Dillon made 10 of 15 three-point attempts--including nine of 12 in the second half--in a 32-point performance, but Boise State held on for an 84-76 Big West Conference victory in Titan Gym.

Dillon’s effort was a Titan school record for three-pointers and was one shy of the Big West record of 11 set by UC Irvine’s Chris Brown against New Mexico State in 1994.

“When I get going like that I don’t even see the defender,” Dillon said. “You get in one of those shooting grooves once you get going. They were on me, but I have a pretty quick release.”

Fullerton (3-15, 2-6 in the Big West) lost for the seventh time in eight games at home this season. Boise State is 12-9, 4-4.

“If [Dillon] doesn’t get it going, it would have been an even longer night for us,” Titan Coach Donny Daniels said.

The Broncos had a 40-30 rebounding advantage, including 16 on the offensive boards to 10 for the Titans, that helped overcome Dillon’s shooting. Boise State also made 22 of 32 free throws to 13 of 18 for Fullerton.

“[Dillon] is a good shooter, and he got in the zone,” Boise State Coach Rod Jensen said. “We were doing a lot of switching and missed him a couple of times. But there were other times when we had good pressure on him, but he stepped back.”

Boise State got a 21-point boost from reserve guard Booker Nabors, who was eight of eight at the free-throw line.

The Broncos played without senior forward Kejuan Woods, who was held out of the game for what was described as a violation of team rules. Woods had scored in double figures in each of the last six games and is averaging 16.7 points in conference play.

Titan center Matt Caldwell, who played nine minutes at UC Santa Barbara in his first appearance since missing seven games because of an illness, was sidelined again.

“It’s an academic thing, and that’s all I can say because of the privacy issue,” Daniels said. “He’s got to get some things cleared up. He could be able to play Friday.”

Daniels said point guard David Castleton and Josh Fischer were slowed by injuries. “They couldn’t practice for three days,’ Daniels said. “Castleton has been having some back problems and Fischer has shin splints. David just couldn’t move.”

The Titans shot only 38.5% from the field in the first half and fell behind at halftime, 38-27.

Three-pointers by Kevin Richardson, Castleton and Dillon cut the deficit to two points, and two free throws by Babacar Camara gave Fullerton a 49-49 tie with 12 1/2 minutes left.

The Titans took the lead for the first time, 52-51, on a three-pointer by Dillon with slightly more than 10 minutes left.

Fullerton was only three points behind with slightly more than two minutes left after another Dillon three-pointer, but the Titans couldn’t get closer after center Richard Morgan scored inside.