Cal State Fullerton senior Yaphett King tied a career-high with 26 points
and led three other starters in double figures, but it wasn't enough as
the Titans' run in the Big West Conference Tournament was ended by No.
2-seeded Utah State, 84-77 on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Fullerton finishes 19-10 overall while Utah State improved to 23-7 and
will meet top-seeded Pacific, a 63-61 victor over Cal State Northridge,
on Saturday in a nationally-televised (ESPN) 9 p.m. tip-off for the tournament
title and the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Junior Jermaine Harper added 21 points on 7-of-11 from three-point range
while sophomore Bobby Brown added 18 points and five assists in 40 minutes
of play. However, senior Ralphy Holmes, the Big West Conference's second-leading
scorer entering the tournament at 16.5 ppg, was held to just 10 points
on 5-of-12 shooting. He did grab a team-high 9 rebounds.
Fullerton center Jamaala Brown picked up two personal
fouls in the first four minutes, sat out the rest of the half and managed
only 3 rebounds in 17 minutes of play in the second half.
Utah State, which ended the Titans' season two years ago in overtime in
the first round of the Big West Tournament, was led by Spencer Nelson's
double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds), and Nate Harris and Cass Matheus,
who scored 21 points apiece to give the Aggies' big starting front line
56 of their 84 points.
Probably the game's biggest play came right after
the one-minute mark. After King's jumper pulled Fullerton within 75-73,
Jason Williams missed for the Aggies. But Nate Harris tipped the rebound
in for a 4-point lead. Bobby Brown missed a 3-pointer at the other end
and the Titans had to foul. Williams missed his second try but the rebound
went off Holmes' foot and out of bounds and back the Aggies.
The Titans shot 46 percent for the game, including a 52 percent clip in
the second half. The Aggies countered with a 51 percent shooting night
overall from the field -- including 53 percent in the second half.
The game was won at the free throw line, however, as the Titans were whistled
for twice as many fouls (20-10), sending Utah State to the line 21 times
to the Titans' nine.
Fullerton led by as many as 10 points in the first half at 27-17, but
a 17-6 run by the Aggies to close out the half gave them a one-point lead
at 34-33 heading into the lockerroom at the break.
Utah State dominated inside against the smaller Fullerton front line,
outscoring the Titans, 54-26, in the paint for the game. The Aggies also
outrebounded the Titans, 39-34, for the game -- including 19 on the offensive
boards.
