FULLERTON, Calif. — Cal State Fullerton made its first 20 free throws in the second half and rode that hot streak through an 11-point second half deficit to an 85-75 win over CSUB Saturday night in Titan Gym.
Senior guard Donavan Bragg (Inglewood/Serra HS) led all scorers with 21 points, his second consecutive 20-point outing. It wasn't enough, however, to over come five Titans in double figures and a sizzling performance by Fullerton at the free throw line
The Roadrunners (3-3 overall) owned the first 18 minutes, building a 14-point lead while shooting a season-high 53 percent from the floor. But Fullerton (2-4) cut six points off the lead at the end of the half to begin its comeback.
After Alex Johnson (Toronto/Vaughan Road Academy) nailed a three on CSUB's first possession of the second half to get the lead back to 11 points, 49-38, Fullerton stormed back from the line. The Titans made their first 19 free throws in the second half – CSUB attempted just 16 the entire game) to climb out of the double-digit hole. Though they entered the game shooting a pedestrian 71 percent from the stripe, the Titans finished 33-37 (89.2 percent) Saturday, including 23-25 in the second half.
Fullerton also out-rebounded CSUB 39-19, though it only translated into a difference of four second chance points in the game. Where that played a factor was in limiting CSUB's to one-shot possessions when it went cold in the second half. CSUB finished just 7-23 from the field in the period.
Fullerton didn't take the lead until an Orin Chin three-pointer put the Titans up 66-63 with just over eight minutes remaining. The trey was part of a 10-1 run that turned CSUB's 63-59 lead into a 69-64 Fullerton advantage. The Roadrunners never had the ball with a chance to take the lead again.
In addition to Bragg's 21, Johnson added 15 points and Stephon Carter (Garces HS) scored 14 with a game-high four assists. Perry Webster and Jer'Vaughn Johnson led Fullerton with 17 points apiece.
CSUB returns to Rabobank Arena to host Northern Arizona Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
CSU BAKERSFIELD (3-3)
Bragg, Donavan 6-11 7-8 21; Johnson, Alex 5-12 2-3 15; Carter, Stephon 5-14 4-5 14; Savage, Rashad 4-10 1-1 9; Albright, James 2-5 1-3 6; Johnson, Donald 2-4 0-0 4; Hayes, Robert 1-2 1-2 4; Brown, Cory 0-0 2-2 2; Kale, Cody 0-0 0-0 0; Jones, Kregg 0-1 0-0 0; Matip, Ivan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-59 18-24 75.
CAL STATE FULLERTON (2-4)
Johnson, Jer'Vaughn 5-6 7-7 17; Webster, Perry 5-9 6-6 17; Chin, Orane 2-7 10-10 16; Peltier, Devon 4-5 4-5 14; Brown, Orlando 3-6 4-5 11; Martin, Sedric 4-6 0-0 8; Williams, Eric 0-1 2-2 2; Jurich, Steve 0-0 0-0 0; Umipig, Isiah 0-5 0-2 0; Guardia, Roger 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-45 33-37 85.
CSU Bakersfield............... 46 29 - 75
Cal State Fullerton........... 38 47 - 85
3-point goals--CSUB 7-15 (A. Johnson 3-8; Bragg 2-2; Hayes 1-2; Albright 1-2; D. Johnson 0-1), CSUF 6-13 (Chin 2-4; Peltier 2-2; Brown 1-2; Webster 1-3; Umipig 0-2). Fouled out--CSUB-D. Johnson, CSUF-Brown. Rebounds--CSUB 20 (Savage 6), CSUF 43 (Johnson, Brown 9). Assists--CSUB 10 (Carter 4), CSUF 16 (Peltier, Chin, Brown, Webster 3). Total fouls--CSUB 26, CSUF 22. Technical fouls--CSUB-None, CSUF-None. A-688
