FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton Titans hosted the UC San Diego Tritons for another Titan Gym thriller. The Titans trailed for most of the game, but made a comeback and took down the Tritons 75-71 in the home finale to secure the season sweep over UCSD.
 
After beating the Tritons on the road in January, the Titans hosted UCSD for another tough battle that ended in Fullerton's favor once again. The Titans trailed for over 35 minutes on Saturday, but all that mattered was the 75-71 final score.
 
Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro got the Titans started with a three pointer for CSF's first lead of the day. Joshua Ward tacked on for a 5-0 head start. The Tritons were quick to tie the game at five and again at eight but eventually took off and held onto the lead for the remainder of the first half. Fullerton trailed by as many as 12 at the four-minute mark and ended the first half trailing 29-39.  
 
The Titans shot 30% in the first half, only netting five of their attempted 20 three pointers and two of three free throws. De La Cruz Monegro led the Titans with nine points in the first half. The senior also logged three rebounds and two assists in the first 20 minutes.
 
In the second half, UC San Diego maintained a steady lead, but the Titans never let them run away. Fullerton went on a seven-point scoring run, their highest of the game, to cut the Tritons lead to just one point with three minutes left to play. With just under two minutes to go, Ward hit a three pointer to tie the game at 66 a piece. The Tritons answered with a long ball themselves, but De La Cruz Monegro immediately erased that, tying the game at 69. For the third time, the Titans tied the game, thanks to a Kendrick De Luna dunk. Ward gave the Titans the lead with back-to-back free throws before stealing the ball back for a layup that would seal the game.
 
In the second half, the Titans shot 58%, making six of 15 three pointers and four of six free throws. Fullerton only logged five turnovers and forced the Tritons to eight turnovers on which the Titans would tally 15 points.
 
Ward led again in the second half with 16 points, tallying a total of 20 on the night. Ward recorded three rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal on Thursday night. De La Cruz Monegro and Jaden Henderson each posted double digits against the Tritons.
 
The Titans hit the road for the final game of the regular season at CSUN on Saturday, Mar. 7 at 5 p.m.
 
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