Ralphy Holmes came off the disabled list to score 23 points including
a buzzer beating 3-pointer at the regulation buzzer Saturday night to
lead Cal State Fullerton to a 57-55 Big West Conference victory in overtime
at UC Santa Barbara.
The win evened both teams' conference records at 1-1 and left the Titans
3-8 overall and the Gauchos, who got 21 points from Mark Hull and 16 from
Nick Jones, at 4-8.
Anthony Bolton added 12 points including what proved to be the game-winning
basket for the Titans, who overcame a 15-point halftime deficit and the
loss of another player when letterman guard Derick Andrew hyperextended
his right elbow in the first half.
Holmes suffered a sprained right shoulder at Sacramento State on Dec.
21 and he had been idled since, undergoing daily therapy and ice treatments
and not raising his arm above his head. He did not travel with the team
to Cal Poly on Wednesday but was given medical clearance on Friday afternoon,
took a few shots in Titan Gym on Saturday morning and got a ride to Santa
Barbara Saturday, arriving just before the teams' game-day practice. He
entered the game after about 7 minutes and made his first shot to make
the score 13-9 in favor of UCSB. The Titans would score only five more
points as they tied the school record for fewest points in a first half
with 14 and trailed, 29-14.
In the second half, Holmes scored 18 points as the Titans outscored UCSB,
35-20. His final three points came after Jones missed the front end of
a one-and-one for UCSB with 4.5 seconds to play. Bolton rebounded the
miss, made an outlet pass to Holmes who took two dribbles before tossing
up a 30-footer that hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded.
In overtime, Holmes made a free throw to put the Titans ahead to stay
at 52-51 with 3:26 to play. He missed the second try but Bolton kept the
rebound alive and Jamal Forcheney converted it into a basket for a 54-51
lead. Bolton's running jumper at 1:48 made the score 57-54. Chris Oliver
hit one of two free throws for the Gauchos to make it 57-55 at 1:34 and
neither team would score again. The Gauchos had the last chance with seven
seconds left but a play intended for Hull was broken up and Bolton secured
the loose ball and the horn sounded.
UCSB failed to score between the 8:09 and 1:54 marks of the second half
as the Titans cut a 46-35 deficit to 46-42. Two Bolton free th5rows and
a layup by Amir Bar-netzxer set the stage for Holmes' buzzer beater. Holmes
also led all rebounders with 9 and Bar-netzer added eight, on the defensive
glass.
Fullerton's next game is Wednesday night in Titan Gym against UC Irvine.
It will be televised live on KDOC, Channel 56.
