FULLERTON, Calif. – Home sweet home. The return to Titan Gym after a three-game road swing proved prosperous for the Cal State Fullerton men's basketball team on Thursday night as the tandem of Alex Harris and Michael Williams led CSF to a 74-64 victory over UC Davis.
Harris led the Titans (8-15, 3-6 Big West) in scoring for the third straight game, notching a game-high 22 points while knocking down three buckets from long distance.
Williams added 20 points, draining three 3-pointers while making 7-of-8 from the charity stripe.
With the win, the Titans move into seventh place in the Big West Conference standings as the top eight teams advance to the league tournament.
Fullerton's Chris Collins added a career-high nine points off the bench shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor, while freshman Sheldon Blackwell dished three assists.
The Titans shot 46.9 percent (23-of-49) from the floor, and held a 35-27 rebounding advantage, scoring 16 second-chance points.
UC Davis (8-17, 3-7 Big West) was led by a 21-point performance from Corey Hawkins.
Cal State Fullerton had a comfortable 42-32 lead at the break, and the difference in the game proved to be the Titans ending the first stanza on a 14-5 run over the final five minutes. The stretch was capped by a long Harris three-pointer that was banked in at the buzzer.
UC Davis had led 20-19 with 9:30 to play in the first period, but a Williams three-pointer gave Fullerton the advantage, 22-20, and the Titans did not relinquish their lead the rest of the way.
During the critical 14-5 run to end the first half, five different Titans scored including five points from James Johnson as the senior recorded a three-point play to begin the stretch.
Harris led the Titans with 13 points in the first 20 minutes as Fullerton shot an even 50.0 percent (14-of-28) from the floor including 4-of-8 from three-point range.
During the first half, the Titans held a 19-12 rebounding advantage as Jared Brandon grabbed five boards – four on the offensive end. Brandon left the game with an undisclosed injury and is listed as day-to-day.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action on Saturday hosting Hawai'i in the annual Homecoming game. The game tips off at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Notes: Cal State Fullerton snapped its three-game losing streak…the Titans split their season series with UC Davis for the fourth straight year…Michael Williams (20 points) has scored in double figures for 23 straight games, and has recorded eight 20-point efforts…for the third straight game Williams and Alex Harris each eclipsed the 20-point threshold…Harris has now scored at least 20 points in six games this year, including three straight…Harris has led the Titans in scoring for three straight games…Chris Collins scored a career-best nine points off the bench.