FULLERTON, Calif. — Cal State Fullerton men's basketball pulled away late to defeat Pacific 67-56 Wednesday night at Titan Gym in its final non-conference game of the season. The win improves the Titans' record to 7-5. 

Max Jones posted 16 points, six rebounds and three assists to lead Fullerton while DJ Brewton added 15 points and six boards. Grayson Carper contributed 12 points and eight rebounds and Tory San Antonio had nine points for the Titans. 

As a team, Fullerton scored 12 points on second chance opportunities to Pacific's two, out-dueling the Tigers on the offensive glass 12-5. The Titans out-rebounded Pacific 40-30 on the night. 

The Tigers took control in the first half, leading by as many as eight with 3:34 left in the period. But Fullerton fought its way back before the break, with Jones finding Carper for a left-wing trey then scoring a layup of his own to tie things up at 27. Jones then hit a three as the Titans led 30-29 at halftime. 

San Antonio and Jones traded triples at the start of the second half before Brewton hammered home a highlight dunk over a Pacific defender to put Fullerton up 40-36.

WITH AUTHORITY ??#DevelopU | #TusksUp | @DBrewton23 pic.twitter.com/MjI6qno4DV

— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) December 21, 2023

But the Tigers fought their way back, taking a 48-46 lead before a Donovan Oday lay-in tied things at 48 midway through the second half. Both teams struggled to score until a Brewton three-point play and a Jalen Cooper trey gave the Titans a 54-48 advantage with 7:39 left. 

Fullerton extended its lead to 10, 62-52, with 2:39 remaining after Jones found Brewton in the corner for a three. The Titans kept their foot on the gas, with Carper hitting another three and Jones draining a pullup jumper as Fullerton went on to win, 67-56. 

The Titans now open Big West action next Thursday, Dec. 28, against rival Long Beach State at Titan Gym. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. PT. 

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Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitansTickets.com. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan House off of Gymnasium Drive at the eastern end of the Intramural Fields and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday. 

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