FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton Titans took down the UC Riverside Highlanders at home to split the season series. The Titans and Highlanders battled in a close one that came down to the wire, ending in Fullerton's favor 78-72.
 
The Titans were down 15-0 after the first four minutes, but were quick to erase UCR's lead, posting 13 straight points. With just under seven minutes in the first half, the Titans tied the game at 26 before taking the lead and hanging onto it until the buzzer. Fullerton led 38-37 at the end of the first half.
 
CSF's first half success was boosted by their performance at the charity stripe. The Titans were nine for 10 at the free throw line and three for seven from beyond the arc. Overall, Fullerton shot a 50% field goal percentage in the first half.
 
Joshua Ward posted a team-high seven points in the first half along with three rebounds, an assist and a steal. Fullerton's bench led with 22 points. Bryce Cofield matched Ward at seven points while Jaden Henderson logged five and Bailey Nunn and Landon Seaman posted four.
 
The second half was a nail bitter as there were four lead changes and the game was tied five different times. The two teams went back and forth in the first eight minutes of the second half as Fullerton's highest lead was only five before the Highlanders tied it and eventually took a six-point lead. Kendrick De Luna then went on a clutch scoring run, reeling the Titans back in with two made free throws and a dunk. A UCR three pointer tied the game at 71 at the three-minute mark. Fullerton showcased a clean defense and went on a 7-1 run to end the game for a final score of 78-72.
 
De Luna and Ward led the team in the second half with 11 points each. CSF continued to succeed at the free throw line, netting 18 of their 22 shots in the second half. Overall, Fullerton shot 34% and only nailed two three-pointers in the final half.
 
Ward led the Titans with 18 points on the night paired with nine rebounds, two assists and a team-leading three steals. Nunn was a quiet standout for Fullerton on Thursday with his 10 rebounds, eight points, two steals and an assist. Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro, De Luna, and Seaman each tallied double-digits against the Highlanders.
 
The Titans look to do it all over again right here in Titan Gym on Saturday when Cal State Bakersfield comes to visit at 4 p.m.
 
SUPPORT THE TITANS!
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. 

FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), X (@FullertonTitans) Instagram (@FullertonTitans), YouTube (FullertonTitansAthletics) and TikTok (@FullertonTitans). In addition, the basketball team has established its own Twitter (@FullertonMBB) and Instagram accounts (@FullertonMBB). 

WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+
Titans fans can now watch every home event exclusively on ESPN+. Cal State Fullerton has built a top-tier production studio to give the viewers an ESPN quality production for all games at Titan Stadium. Additionally, all schools in the Big West Conference are committed to producing ESPN quality streams which will allow fans to watch the Titans on ESPN+ for all road conference games.