Christian Maraker scored 26 points and David Doubley added 18 Monday night
to lead Pacific to a 66-64 Big West Conference overtime victory over host
Cal State Fullerton.
Pape Sow had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Fullerton, which lost its third
game in a row to fall to 4-7 overall and 0-2 in the Big West. The Tigers
are now 7-6, 2-0.
Doubley’s 3-point basket with 1:08 remaining in overtime was the
game winner, giving Pacific a 65-64 lead. Maraker added a free throw with
8 seconds to go and Fullerton’s Yaphett King missed a 3-pointer from
the corner and time expired as Fullerton was trying to tip the ball in
for a tie. Doubley, who averages only 5.8 points, made 5 of 6 3-pointers
to lead Pacific’s 11-for-24 effort from behind the arc. Fullerton
was only 4 of 16.
Fullerton forced overtime by outscoring Pacific 13-2 over the final 5:30
of regulation. The Titans used a 13-0 run to take a 58-56 lead on a Sow
bank shot at 1:26 but Maraker made two free throws with 1:11 to go to
tie it. Each team missed a shot in the final minute.
In overtime, Sow fouled out with 2:59 to go and the game tied at 60-60.
Fullerton took a 64-60 lead on baskets by King and Bobby Brown but Maraker
scored inside at 1:32 and Anthony Bolton missed a jumper for the Titans
to set the stage for Doubley.
Pacific appeared to be running away with the game in the first half, leading
37-20 after Maraker’s 3-pointer at 2:18. But Fullerton finished with
an 8-1 run capped by a half-court 3-pointer by Zakee Smith.
Fullerton is now 0-3 in overtime this year after going 5-1 in overtime
last year. It was Pacific’s fifth consecutive win in Titan Gym, where
the Tigers won at the regulation buzzer last year.
Fullerton plays Saturday at UC Riverside. Pacific hosts Long Beach State
on Thursday night.
