Cardell Butler scored 15 of his career-high 31 points in the first nine
minutes of the game to lead 25th-ranked Utah State to a convincing 87-61
victory against Cal State Fullerton in its final home game of the season.
With the win, USU improved to 22-2 overall and 14-1 in the Big West Conference,
while Cal State Fullerton fell to 9-14 and 5-9. The Aggies closed their
home season 15-0 to tie the school mark for best home record. It was the
fourth undefeated home season in school history and came in front of the
fourth sellout of the year.
Butler drilled eight of 10 three-pointers, just one shy of the school
record of nine threes made by Jay Goodman against Brigham Young in 1990.
The Aggies hit 13 three-pointers (on 18 attempts) as a team to tie the
school mark previously set against Cal State Fullerton in 1999.
For the night, Butler also made 11 of his 15 field goal attempts in 30
minutes of action. Jason Williams added 12 points for USU while Mark Brown
and Spencer Nelson each added 10. Brown chipped in with nine assists as
well.
USU jumped out to a 16-13 lead on Butler's fifth three-pointer of the
game. The Aggies then took a 43-27 advantage into halftime as Butler finished
the period with 22 points.
USU shot 73.9 percent in the first half and ended the game at 68.1 percent,
the third best shooting percentage in school history. USU's 72.2 percent
three-point shooting was the ninth best mark with a minimum of five threes
made.
Cal State Fullerton never pulled closer than 12 points in the second half
and the Aggies' biggest lead of the game came at the buzzer after little
used walkon Tyler Williams hit a jumper with 0:02 left in the game.
Cal State Fullerton was led by Pape Sow, who had 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Bobby Brown added 15 points, while Anthony Bolton scored 11. CS Fullerton
shot just 38.1 percent from the field, but hit nine three-pointers and
out-rebounded the Aggies 33-26. USU committed just six turnovers in the
game.
The Titans close out their home schedule next week, hosting UC Santa Barbara
on Thursday (Feb. 26) and Cal Poly on Saturday (Feb. 28) at Titan Gym.
Both games are scheduled to tip at 7:05 p.m.
