Senior Ralphy Holmes had a game-high 20 points and 11 rebounds and the
defense held UC Santa Barbara to a Titan opponent low 34.7 percent shooting
as Cal State Fullerton moved into the semifinals of the Big West Conference
Tournament with a 66-55 victory over the Gauchos at the Anaheim Convention
Center.
The Titans improved to 19-9 overall and will face No. 2-seeded Utah State
at 8:30 p.m. on Friday night in Anaheim, Calif., in a game to be televised
locally on KVMD TV. UCSB ended its season 11-18 overall.
It was Fullerton's first win in the tournament since 1998, snapping a
five-game losing streak as the Titans improved to 11-16 in openers.
Holmes led three other Titans in double figures as Bobby Brown finished
with 16 points while playing all 40 minutes, Jamaal Brown notched a double-double
with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Yaphett King finished with 11 points
on 4-of-5 shooting.
UCSB was led by Josh Davis, who had 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Chrisman
Oliver (14 points) and Derek Rasp (10) also finished in double figures.
The Titans shot 40 percent from the floor en route to a 35-24 halftime
advantage that was capped by a circus shot from Holmes from 18 feet out
at the buzzer. Fullerton shot 57 percent in the second half and led by
as many 16 points in the period, but allowed the Gauchos to close back
to within six at 46-40.
It was the first time ever that the Titans and Gauchos have met in the
Big West Tournament as Cal State Fullerton swept the season series from
UCSB, 3-0.
Fullerton and Utah State split the season series, 1-1, with each team
earning a victory on its home court.
