Cal State Fullerton senior Ralphy Holmes had a double-double with 12 points
and 13 boards while leading three other starters in double figures as
the Titans clinched at least fourth place in the Big West Conference with
a 66-57 victory over host UC Santa Barbara on Thursday night at The Thunderdome.
The Titans improved to 16-8 overall, 10-5 in the conference, clinching
a first round bye in the upcoming Big West Conference Tournament (March
9-12) in Anaheim, Calif.
The win total is the highest since the 1988-89 squad finished 16-13 while
the 10 conference victories are the most since 1992-93 (10-8). Fullerton
swept UC Santa Barbara in the season series for the first time since 1993-94.
The Gauchos fell to 9-15, 6-9 in league play.
Fullerton led by four at the break and trailed early in the second half
as UCSB hit on nine of its first 13 shots. However, the Gauchos then went
cold, missing their next six straight shots as Fullerton raced out to
a 10-point lead and never looked back.
UC Santa Barbara shot 36.4 percent from the floor – the lowest percentage
by a Titan opponent this season – and hit only 12-of-21 from
the free throw line. Fullerton held a 42-33 advantage on the boards and
shot just over 43 percent from the field for the game.
Sophomore Bobby Brown and junior Jamaal Brown led the Titans with 14 points
apiece while senior Yaphett King added 11 points and six boards.
UCSB was led by Derek Rasp, who had 15 points, and was joined in double
figures by Chrismen Oliver and Joe See, who added 10 points each.
The Titans look to claim their fourth-straight victory, and their ninth
in the last 10 games, on Saturday night (Feb. 26) when they travel up
the road to meet Cal Poly at 7 p.m.
