Pacific's Christian Maraker tallied a game-high 26 points and led three
other starters in double figures as the host Tigers defeated Cal State
Fullerton, 94-88, on Thursday night at the Spanos Center in Stockton,
Calif.
The Titans fell to 5-4 overall and 1-1 in Big West play while the Tigers
improved to 7-2 overall, 2-0 in league action.
Fullerton was led off the bench by guard Jermaine Harper, who scored a
team and career-high 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting in 27 minutes. He was
joined in the 20-plus club by senior Ralphy Holmes, who had 23 points
on 11-of-23 from the field.
Bobby Brown and Jamaal Brown were also in double figures for Fullerton
with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Guillaume Yango (19 points), Marko Mihailovic (10), and David Doubley
(10) were the other starters in double figures for the Tigers. Doubley
had a double double with 10 assists. Jasko Korajkic came off the bench
to add 12 points for Pacific. Maraker tied his career high, also scored
against the Titans on Jan. 5, 2004.
Fullerton almost pulled off another late rally. The Titans trailed by
10 points at 80-70 with 6 minutes to play and it was still a 6-point game
at 87-81 at the 2 minute mark. But Harper hit a 3-pointer and Jamaal Brown
made a steal. His length-of-the-court dash for a layup was blocked, but
Holmes rebounded and scored to make it 87-86 with a minute to play.
After a timeout, Pacific got a driving layup from Tim Newton and then
turned an errant 3-point try by Holmes into a fast-break capped by a dunk
by Jasko Korajkic that basically sealed the win for the defending Big
West Co-Champions.
The Tigers shot 66 percent from the field, hitting on 31-of-47 from the
floor, including 68 percent in the second half. The Titans shot .468 from
the floor for the game and outrebounded the Tigers, 34-30, for the contest.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action on Thursday (Jan. 6) as the Titans
host UC Riverside at Titan Gym. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
