Fullerton’s Win Streak Hits Three

At the rate Cal State Fullerton keeps winning overtime games, the Titans should consider working extra the rest of the Big West Conference schedule.

Derick Andrew scored 16 points and Anthony Bolton made two free throws with 4.9 seconds remaining to give Fullerton its third consecutive overtime victory, 57-53, Saturday night over Long Beach State at Fullerton.

Fullerton has won three consecutive games for the first time in three seasons, and the string of overtime victories is a program first. The Titans (5-8 overall) haven’t been 3-1 in conference since the 1990-91 season.

“Obviously, this has given us confidence and given us some kind of continuity,” Fullerton Coach Donny Daniels said. “But I know I have to keep this team grounded as far as who we are.”

Ralphy Holmes made a jumper in the lane for a 55-50 Titan lead with 39 seconds left. Tony Darden, who led the 49ers with 11 points, buried his second three-pointer in a 42-second span to cut the lead to two. But Long Beach (1-11, 0-3) missed on two opportunities to tie the score.

Antoine Jackson drew a foul rebounding Andrew’s missed free throw, but he missed the first attempt of a one and one. Fullerton’s Jamal Forcheney missed a free throw to give Long Beach another chance, but the 49ers didn’t get a shot off as Holmes deflected a pass inside heading for Kevin Roberts.

Bolton grabbed the ball, was fouled and made two free throws before 1,411 fans.

Long Beach lost its 10th in a row and is off to its worst start in school history.

Eric Stephens

UC Irvine 81, UC Riverside 77 -- Riverside (2-8, 1-3 Big West) trailed by three points with 11 seconds remaining in the game but was denied a final shot when guard Jake Wessel let an uncontested pass from guard Mark Peters go through his fingers and out of bounds at Riverside.

Riverside had several leads in the second half but never one greater than three points. It took its last lead with 52 seconds to go on a dunk by forward Aaron Hands off a lob from Peters.

But guard Mike Hood made a jumper with 31 seconds left to give Irvine (8-4, 2-1) a 78-77 lead.

Paul McLeod

Pacific 67, Cal State Northridge 59 -- Pacific (8-4, 3-0 Big West) went on a 12-0 run in the final three minutes at Stockton.

Curtis Slaughter scored 15 points for Northridge (6-7, 0-3).

Utah St. 75, UC Santa Barbara 59 -- Spencer Nelson had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Utah State (12-3, 13-1 Big West) at Logan, Utah.

Mark Hull led Santa Barbara (5-9, 2-2) with 15 points and Nick Jones scored 11.

Portland 73, Loyola Marymount 68 -- Donald Wilson scored a season-high 25 points and Portland (8-7, 1-1 in West Coast) held off a late rally by the Lions (6-11, 0-2) at Portland, Ore.

Andy Osborn had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Loyola.