SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal State Fullerton held on to defeat Cal Poly, 54-51, Thursday night on the road behind 13 points and eight rebounds from DJ Brewton. The win improves the Titans' record to 10-10 on the season and 3-5 in Big West play. 

Brewton also contributed two blocks and a pair of steals on top of his 13 points and eight boards. Beril Kabamba notched his first career double-double, scoring 10 while pulling down 10 rebounds to go with three assists. Tory San Antonio and John Mikey Square each added seven for Fullerton. 

The Titans led by as many as 12 in the second half before the Mustangs came back to make it a three-point game, 52-49, with 1:50 to go. But Square scored in the paint on the following possession and shut down Cal Poly's Kobe Sanders on defense in the final seconds as Fullerton held on for the 54-51 win. 

The Mustangs got out to a quick start in the contest, taking an 18-7 lead 12 minutes in. But the Titans fought their way back, with a San Antonio jumper and Grayson Carper triple tying things up at 18. Brewton scored a runner in the paint and Oday got a basket to fall just before the first-half buzzer as Fullerton took a 24-22 advantage into the locker room. 

The Titans kept their foot on the gas to start the second half, with Max Jones scoring a pair of baskets and Brewton completing a three-point play off his own steal to put Fullerton up 32-24. The Titans extended their lead to 12, 43-31, after baskets down low from Kabamba and Brewton and a pair of Oday free throws. 
 

DJ steal ?? DJ and one#DevelopU | #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/mWZKoiEUuH

— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) January 26, 2024

Fullerton kept the Mustangs at bay with a flurry of free throws from Kabamba and Jones before Cal Poly started to claw its way back. A Sanders three cut the Titans' lead to five, 50-45, with 4:23 to go. 

Kabamba found Square for a basket in the paint before back-to-back Mustang buckets made it 52-49 for Fullerton with 1:50 left. Square again scored down low with 1:18 to make it 54-49 Titans. Sanders scored a pair of free throws before Fullerton turned the ball over on a shot-clock violation, still holding on to a 54-51 lead with 35 seconds remaining. 

Square was switched onto Cal Poly's Sanders with under 15 seconds left but held his own, forcing a long three-point miss. San Antonio was fouled after Kabamba grabbed the rebound but missed the ensuing two free throws. Sanders again had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer but missed another three-point attempt, as the Titans came away with the 54-51 victory. 
 

Lockdown Mikey ??#DevelopU | #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/dJricKJzgO

— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) January 26, 2024

Up next, Fullerton returns home to take on CSU Bakersfield on Saturday, Jan. 27. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m. PT. 

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