Holmes Lifts Titans in OT

Ralphy Holmes made a jump shot at the buzzer and Cal State Fullerton held off Oregon State, 85-83, in overtime Wednesday night to advance in the National Invitation Tournament for the first time.

Holmes and Bobby Brown each had 27 points to lead the Titans, who are making their third NIT appearance. Fullerton will next play San Francisco (17-13) on Saturday. The Dons beat Denver, 69-67.

The Titans’ leading scorer and rebounder, Holmes was mobbed by his teammates after making the game-winning shot. Oregon State’s Chris Stephens crumbled to the court after the shot.

Holmes also had 13 rebounds.

Fullerton (20-10), with its first winning season since 1992-93, squandered an 18-point lead it had built at the start of the second half.

Oregon State (17-15) trailed, 70-59, with about five minutes left. Sparked by J.S. Nash’s three-point basket, the Beavers went on a 15-4 run to make it 74-74. Nick DeWitz’s long jumper for Oregon State bounced off the rim as time ran out, sending the game into overtime.

David Lucas had 26 points and DeWitz had 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead Oregon State, which trailed, 51-35, at the half.

Fullerton tied for third place in the Big West Conference at 12-6. The Titans lost to Utah State, 84-77, in the semifinals of the conference tournament.

It was Fullerton’s third Pacific 10 Conference opponent in the NIT. The Titans lost to Byron Scott and Arizona State at Tempe, Ariz., in 1983 and to Kevin Johnson and California at Berkeley in 1987.

It was Oregon State’s first postseason appearance since 1990.

The Titans and the Beavers had met only once before, with Oregon State winning, 68-35, in Corvallis in 2000.