Titans Win, Get Help to Make Tournament

Cal State Fullerton hasn’t had many good nights in a troubled season, but the Titans can count Saturday as one of them.

Fullerton ended the regular season with a 70-59 nonconference victory over UC Riverside in front of 1,002 in Titan Gym. The Titans also qualified for the Big West Conference tournament thanks to UC Irvine’s victory Saturday night over Idaho.

Fullerton (5-22) shared seventh in the conference with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Idaho. Each had 3-13 conference records, but Fullerton earned the No. 7 seeding in the eight-team tournament because of its 3-1 record over the other two teams. The Titans won both their games against Idaho.

Fullerton will play second-seeded Utah State in the tournament’s first round.

The victory, only the Titans’ third in 14 games at home this season, avenged a seven-point loss at Riverside in November. The Highlanders, who will join the Big West next season, finished 8-17 in their first season playing a NCAA Division I schedule.

“It’s nice to be able to go to the tournament,” Titan Coach Donny Daniels said. “It’s nice for our seniors especially, and that they could go out at home with a victory.”

Fullerton’s two seniors, Ike Harmon and Matt Caldwell, had good efforts in their final appearance in Titan Gym. Harmon led the Titans with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Caldwell had nine points and seven rebounds.

“Getting in the tournament gives us some new life,” Harmon said, “and it’s nice for Matt and I to have good games at the same time. It doesn’t seem like we’ve both been healthy at the same time for many games this season.”

Harmon was sidelined for nine games, two because of a suspension and seven because of a stress fracture in his left foot. Caldwell sat out a month because of a blood disorder.

“They responded well on Senior Night,” Daniels said. “They got off to a good start, and they played with a lot of emotion.”

Riverside was without its leading scorer, guard Mark Miller, who was sidelined with a sprained ankle. Guard Ted Bell led the Highlanders with 16 points.

The Titans fell behind, 11-9, but then went on a 14-0 run to build a 23-11 lead midway in the first half. Fullerton led by 15 points, but Riverside closed the gap to seven points briefly before the Titans regained control.

Fullerton shot 51.9% in the first half to 30% for Riverside.