BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Cal State Fullerton built a big second half lead then withstood a furious CSUB comeback to earn an 84-80 nonconference victory Tuesday night.
Scott Cutley led Fullerton (20-8 overall) with a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double. Frank Robinson added 22 points for the Titans while Josh Akognon scored 18 points before fouling out late.
Senior forward Demarcus Hall, playing his final collegiate game, led all scorers with a career-high 25 points for Bakersfield, which finished its first full NCAA Division I season at 8-21. The star of the game for the Roadrunners, however, was junior forward Donald Lee. Lee didn't play in the first half but dominated the second half, posting career highs of 20 points and 15 rebounds ? including 10 offensive boards -- in just 16 minutes.
Fullerton appeared to take control midway through the second half, using a 14-1 run to turn a 59-52 lead into its biggest advantage at 73-53 with 10:26 remaining. But that is when Lee began to assert himself. He scored 14 points and grabbed seven offensive rebounds in the final 7:33 as Bakersfield chipped away at the deficit.
A Lee put back and free throw got the Roadrunners to within four points at 82-78 with 2:28 remaining. A short Lee jumper made it 84-80 with 46 seconds to play before Robinson missed the front end of a one-and-one on the ensuing Fullerton possession to set up a wild finish in which Bakersfield missed six consecutive shots in the final 28 seconds, allowing the Titans to escape with the win.