Mustangs Edge Titans in Big West Opener Dec. 20, 2001 – Fullerton, Calif.
Box Score
Brandon Beeson and Varnie Dennis scored 11 points each and Eric Jackson
added 9 points and a team-high 7 rebounds Thursday night as Cal Poly SLO
held on for a 61-60 men's basketball victory at Cal State Fullerton in
the Big West Conference opener for both schools.
Brandon Campbell had 19 points and Josh Fischer added 10 for Fullerton,
which fell to 3-6, 0-1. The Mustangs are 6-2, 1-0 after their fourth victory
in a row.
Jackson made one of two free throws for a 61-56 lead with 41 seconds left
and it proved decisive when Campbell made a follow shot with three seconds
remaining and Kevin Richardson put in another follow at the buzzer after
Campbell missed a free throw. The Mustangs missed four of their last five
free throws in the last 53 seconds as a 60-52 lead with 1:38 to go almost
disappeared.
Cal Poly shot only 39 per cent from the floor, 29 per cent from 3-point
range and 60 per cent from the foul line and was outrebounded, 44-32.
But the Titans made only 1 of 15 3-point field goal tries and only 7 of
15 at the foul line while committing 20 turnovers to 16 by Cal Poly.
Fullerton led only once in the game at 35-34 on a Campbell basket 90 seconds
into the second half. The Mustangs took the lead for good at 43-42 when
Jason Allen made one of two free throws after a technical foul was called
on Fullerton's Pape Sow for reaching through the plane on a full-court
press. Their biggest lead was 8 at 58-50 and finally 60-52 on two Phillip
Johnson free throws. The Mustangs caught a break when Derick Andrew's
apparent 3-point basket with 56 seconds left was ruled a 2-pointer and
left the score at 60-54.
Sow led all rebounders with 11 but made only 3 of 12 shots from teh floor
and 2 of 8 at the foul line.
Fullerton hosts UC Santa Barbara on Saturday night while Cal Poly is at
UC Riverside.
