Cal State Fullerton newcomer Jermaine Harper poured in a game-high 20
points on 7-of-14 shooting in his Titan debut, but Fullerton opened the
2004-05 season on the short end of a 69-57 loss to Samford in the first
round of the Mohegan Sun Classic on Friday night in New Britain, CT.
The Titans are 0-1 overall while the Bulldogs improved to 1-0.
Six of Harper's seven buckets came from behind the three-point arc as
he added six rebounds in a successful debut. He was the lone Titan in
double figures as Hardy Asprilla and fellow newcomer Derek Quinet each
added eight points each. Asprilla grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds on the
night.
The Titans outrebounded the Bulldogs, 32-23, but trailed by nine points
at halftime despite shooting .545 from the floor in the opening period.
Samford shot .465 from the floor for the game to Fullerton's .449.
J. Robert Merritt had 20 points and six boards for the Bulldogs and was
joined in double figures by teammate Randall Gulima, who added 13.
Cal State Fullerton was whistled for 23 fouls on the night sending Samford
to the line 27 times– including 21 times in the second half alone
– where the Bulldogs made 18-of-27 (.667). For comparison, the Titans
got to the line just seven times on the night, making six.
The Titans return to action on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 20) as they will
meet the loser of the Central Connecticut State-Colgate matchup at 3 p.m.
PST.
