ISLA VISTA, Calif. — Cal State Fullerton defeated UC Santa Barbara 73-69 Saturday afternoon on the road behind 22 points from Max Jones and 20 from DJ Brewton. The win improves the Titans' record to 9-10 overall and 2-5 in Big West play.
Jones reached 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-6 from deep, hitting a pair of timely three-pointers over the final minutes to preserve Fullerton's lead. He also had five assists. DJ Brewon scored 20 on 7-of-12 shooting to go with six rebounds while Grayson Carper added a career-high 14, hitting 4-of-8 from distance. Beril Kabamba added nine points and a season-high 10 boards.
The Titans led by as many as 15 early in the second half before the Gauchos cut it to two with under a minute left. But Fullerton prevailed, hitting its final five free throw attempts to seal the win. As a team the Titans tallied a 47.9% shooting clip, their best in Big West action, while tying their season-high in three-pointers made with nine. Fullerton out-scored UCSB in bench points 25-11.
The Gauchos trimmed the Titans' 15-point second-half lead to three, 60-57, with 5:38 left in the game after an Ajay Mitchell jumper. But Max Jones answered on the ensuing possession with his third triple of the game. UCSB then hit a three of its own before Jones again nailed a trey from the right wing while being fouled, pushing Fullerton's lead to 67-60 with 4:31 left.
UCSB hung around, though, with Mitchell completing a three-point play with 38 seconds to go to cut the Titans' lead to two, 68-66. But Fullerton kept the Gauchos at bay, with Brewton hitting three free throws and Jones adding a pair down the stretch. The Titan defense also put together a series of stops over the final possessions, including a drawn charge by John Mikey Square with 10 seconds left, to preserve the 73-69 victory.
UCSB jumped out to a 17-13 lead early in the contest before Fullerton stormed back, with a Brewton jumper and Carper triple giving the Titans a 22-19 lead. Carper hit another trey before Jones added a pair to push Fullerton's lead to seven, 31-24. Carper drained one more three before the half as the Titans led 38-28 at the break.
Brewton came out hot to start the second half, scoring seven early points to build Fullerton's lead to 15, 45-30. But the Gauchos used an 11-5 run to cut the Titans' advantage, 50-41. Teams traded baskets, with Brewton hitting a three and Kabamba getting a layup to fall to bring the score to 57-48 for Fullerton with 8:53 left.
UCSB proceeded to cut the Titans' lead to three, 58-55, and again at 60-57 with 5:38 left. But Fullerton held on down the stretch, ultimately coming away with the 73-69 road victory.
Up next, the Titans remain on the road to take on Cal Poly on Thursday, Jan. 25. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT.
MILESTONE WIN
The win gave Dedrique Taylor his 150th career victory as Cal State Fullerton men's basketball head coach. He is the second head coach in program history to reach the milestone, joining Bob Burton (2003-12, 155).
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