FULLERTON, Calif. – The CSUB men's basketball team overcame a sluggish first half with a pair of furious second half rallies, only to fall just short in a 77-70 loss at Cal State Fullerton Monday night.
Freshman guard Stephon Carter (Garces HS) enjoyed a breakout performance, scoring a game and team season high 24 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals. He carried the team back after Fullerton had built a 16-point lead, 45-29, scoring 11 points in a 22-6 run that tied the game at 51-51 with 8:03 remaining.
Fullerton quickly regained control with an 8-0 streak of its own before extending its lead back to 14 at 73-59 with 59 seconds remaining.
But Titan fans who thought the game was over were in for a rude awakening as the Roadrunners stormed back once again. A Donald Johnson (Lancaster/Eastern Arizona) three-pointer started the rally. Sophomore guard Bryan Emanuel (Bellflower/Mayfair HS) stole the ensuing inbounds pass and converted a layup to trim the deficit to 73-64.
Fullerton scrambled to inbound the ball. This time, Carter picked off the secondary pass and found Emanuel in the far corner. Emanuel came up big again, draining a three as Fullerton sophomore Jacques Streeter ran him over. Emanuel completed the rare four-point play and the 'Runners trailed by just five, 73-68, with 28 seconds left.
The third time proved to be a charm for Fullerton as the Titans managed to get the ball into the front court, where CSUB fouled Jer'Vaughn Johnson, who made one of two free throws. That's when the clock struck midnight on the 'Runner comeback.
Racing the ball upcourt, Donavan Bragg (Inglewood/Serra HS) found Emanuel open on the left wing. His three-point attempt circled and nearly dropped inside the cylinder before rimming out. Instead of CSUB pulling to within three points, Fullerton went back to the line to extend its lead.
“I saw some good things out there tonight,” said CSUB Head Coach Keith Brown. “It was the kind of energy we displayed early in the season and then in spurts in some recent games. In order to win on the road at a place like (Fullerton) we just need to sustain that effort a little longer.”
In addition to Carter, Emanuel finished with 12 points while senior forward Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS) ran his double-figure scoring streak to 15 games, finishing with 11. Senior forward Santwon Latunde (Landover, Md./Cowley County CC) posted his fourth double-figure rebounding game of the season with 11.
Streeter led four Titans in double figures with 23 points. Bryce Webster chipped in a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double for Fullerton.
CSUB returns home to host Cal Poly on New Year's Eve in a special 5 p.m. tip-off at Rabobank Arena.
