Junior forward Shane Schilling scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds
as Cal Poly overcame a lethargic first half to defeat Cal State Fullerton
65-44 in a Big West Conference men1s basketball opener Thursday night
in Mott Gym.
With the win, Cal Poly evened its overall mark at 5-5, winning for the
fourth time in its last five games. Cal State Fullerton fell to 2-8.
Schilling also contributed six assists for the Mustangs, who avenged a
64-62 loss to the Titans in the final game of the 2001-02 regular season.
Junior center Varnie Dennis, senior guard Steve Geary and sophomore center
Phil Johnson each scored 11 points for Cal Poly while senior guard Jason
Allen added 10.
Junior guard Derick Andrew scored 16 points for Cal State Fullerton and
junior forward Bron Groomes added 10 off the bench.
Cal Poly led only 24-20 at halftime and Cal State Fullerton scored the
first basket of the second half a jumper by junior forward Jamal Forcheney.
But the Mustangs then went on a 22-4 run to break the game open as the
Titans went nine minutes without a field goal. The Mustangs led by as
many as 28 points late in the second half.
Each team attempted 56 floor shots. Cal Poly made 24 for 43 percent while
Cal State Fullerton connected on 17 for just 30 percent. Cal Poly was
9-for-25 from three-point range.
The Mustangs outrebounded the Titans 43-40 and each team turned the ball
over 13 times.
Cal State Fullerton next travels to UC Santa Barbara on Saturday (Jan.
4) at 7 p.m. at the Thunderdome.
