Jeff McMillan scored 22 points including four in overtime Tuesday night
as USC rallied for a 96-90 victory over Cal State Fullerton.
Freshman point guard Bobby Brown played 45 minutes and scored 27 points
to lead the Titans (2-4), who set a school record by making 14 3-point
baskets. Anthony Bolton added 18 points and Brian Pruitt had 10 including
nine in the final 7:22 of regulation when the Titans let a 7-point lead
evaporate.
Pruitt's jumper gave Fullerton a 78-73 lead with 2:53 to play but the
Trojans (3-2) got a layup by McMillan and a 3-ponter by Desmon Farmer
to tie the game with 56 seconds left. Brown missed a jumper in traffic
for the Titans and Farmer missed a long trey to set up overtime.
Derrick Craven's 3-pointer broke an 83-83 tie with 2:29 to play in OT
and the Trojans led the rest of the way, nailing down the win by making
11 of 12 free throws in the extra period. It was USC's third consecutive
overtime game, a school record.
Fullerton opened the second half with a 9-0 run to turn a 35-33 deficit
into a 42-35 lead and built it to as many as 11 points at 52-41 with 14:33
to play. USC tied the game at 56-56 before Fullerton pulled out again
to a 70-63 lead on Pruitt's 3-pointer at 7:22.
Pape Sow scored only 9 points and had zero rebounds in 21 minutes before
fouling out. Backup Babacar Camara had 2 points and 5 boards before he
fouled out as well. USC made 25 of 32 free throws to Fullerton's 10 of
12 effort.
Fullerton is home Saturday night to Eastern WAshington.
