FULLERTON, Calif. — Cal State Fullerton men's basketball dropped a home contest to UC Riverside Thursday night at Titan Gym, 81-73. The loss is the Titans' fourth straight and drops their record to 11-14 overall and 4-9 in Big West play.
Five different Titans reached double figures in scoring for the first time this season, led by a team-high 14 points from Tory San Antonio. Grayson Carper notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds while DJ Brewton added 13 points and four boards. Jalen Cooper and Max Jones tallied 12 points apiece for Fullerton.
The Titans dug themselves out of a 15-point first half deficit, claiming a 66-64 lead with 5:24 left following a Jones corner triple. But the Highlanders responded, closing the game on an 10-2 run in the final minutes to seal their 81-73 win.
UC Riverside opened the game on a 18-4 run before Carper drained back-to-back triples off assists from San Antonio and Brewton. The Highlanders took their largest lead of the game, 27-12, with eight minutes to go in the opening period. Brewton, though, scored the next nine for Fullerton and assisted a San Antonio triple, making it 33-27 for UC Riverside.
Antwan Robinson, who notched his first career start, hit a three with 1:41 left in the half to bring the Titans within two, 33-31. But the Highlanders took a 40-33 advantage into the locker room.
UC Riverside again got out to a quick start in the second half, pushing its lead to 47-33 two minutes in. Fullerton, however, responded with a 15-5 run fueled by a trio of baskets from Cooper and a Jones pull up jumper. San Antonio and Brewton later traded driving layups to bring the Titans within four, 58-54.
Carper knocked down a pair of free throws midway through the second half and San Antonio nailed a three cut Fullerton's deficit to one, 60-59. Carper added a jumper and Jones hit a pair from the line to give the Titans their first lead, 63-62, with 7:47 to go. Jones hit a corner trey to give Fullerton its largest lead of the night, 66-64.
Teams traded baskets, with San Antonio getting a tough lay-in to fall to tie things up at 71 with 2:18 left. But the Highlanders finished strong, using a 10-2 run down the stretch to claim the 81-73 victory.
Up next, the Titans travel south to take on UC San Diego this Saturday, Feb. 17. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. PT.
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