Harris Lifts Utah State Past Fullerton, 57-49

Sophomore forward Nate Harris, making his third career start, scored a career-high 22 points and added six rebounds Thursday night to help front-running Utah State to a 57-49 Big West Conference victory at Cal State Fullerton.

Guard Bobby Brown led Fullerton (5-10, 1-5 Big West) with 19 points. Center Pape Sow, who sat out practice most of the week because of a sore hamstring, had 14 rebounds but was double-teamed and scored only seven points, ending his consecutive double-double string at four games.

Harris, celebrating his 21st birthday, started in place of 6-foot-8 junior Spencer Nelson, the Aggies’ leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, who broke his nose in practice earlier in the week. Harris averages 10 points a game but had that in less than 10 minutes Thursday. Nonetheless, Utah State couldn’t shake the Titans, who held a 35-29 lead after a three-point basket by Yaphett King to start the second half.

The Aggies (14-1, 6-0) rallied to take a 44-41 lead on a three-point basket by guard Chris Huber with 10:58 left. Fullerton led, 49-48, with three minutes remaining on a three-point shot by Brown, but the Titans couldn’t find the basket after that.

Two free throws by reserve forward Chad Evans and a basket by Harris got Utah State rolling on a 9-0 run to close the scoring.

Paul McLeod

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UC Santa Barbara 59, Cal State Northridge 47 -- Joe See came off the bench to score 11 points and add six assists to lead the Gauchos past the Matadors at Goleta, Calif.

The victory was the third in a row for the Gauchos (10-5, 4-2 Big West), who were led by Branduinn Fullove’s 13 points. The loss was the third in a row for the Matadors (6-9, 2-5).

See led a 29-4 run for Santa Barbara in the first half by making two three-point baskets and assisting on three other baskets in a six-minute flurry.

The Gauchos led by as many as 24 points, 44-20, with 17:16 to play before Northridge rallied behind Davin White and Ian Boylan. White finished with 18 points, Boylan with 14.

Idaho 63, UC Riverside 57 -- Tyrone Hayes had a season-high 23 points as the Vandals pulled away to win in overtime at Riverside.

The Vandals (5-10, 2-4 Big West) led for most of the game until the 3:47 mark, when Vili Morton’s lay-up gave the Highlanders (6-8, 3-3) a 47-46 lead.

Riverside had a last chance to win in regulation, but Morton’s baseline jump shot was off the mark.

Idaho scored the first six points in overtime and Riverside was able to get as close as three points, 60-57.

The Highlanders connected on only 13.6% (three of 22) of their three-point attempts.

Nate Carter led Riverside with 19 points.