FULLERTON, Calif. – Senior guard Alex Harris matched a career high scoring 29 points while senior Steve McClellan produced his second straight double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds as the Cal State Fullerton men's basketball team won its third consecutive game in an 82-77 victory over Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Monday night at Titan Gym.
Harris' 29 points set a new season high for the Richmond, Calif., native as he scored 23 in the second half on 9-of-17 shooting from the floor and a 9-of-10 effort from the free-throw line for the game. In addition, he dished out three assists.
With the win, the Titans (6-7) have now won three straight, while the Islanders fall to 4-7 on the year.
McClellan recorded his second straight double-double – third of the season – with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Titans had four players in double figures as Josh Gentry matched a season high with 14 points, adding six rebounds and three assists as he shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe. Senior Moses Morgan chipped in 11 points, knocking down two three-pointers.
Texas A&M Corpus Christi was led by John Jordan's 22 points and four assists, while Bryce Douvier added 19 points, knocking down 3-of-4 from beyond the three-point arc and making 8-of-11 at the free-throw line. Rashawn Thomas added 11 points for the Islanders.
Fullerton shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the floor and a season-best 82.8 percent (24-of-29) from the free-throw line, while outrebounding Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 36-26, including a 14-7 edge on the offensive glass which led to 18 second-chance points.
The Islanders shot 50.0 percent (25-of-50) from the floor but made only 19-of-30 attempts from the charity stripe.
In the second half, Fullerton built a 55-45 lead as Harris threw down a dunk with 12:43 to play, capping a stretch in which he scored 10 of Fullerton's 19 points to open up the second period, including draining two buckets from long distance.
The Titans first double digit lead of the game was built on a 19-13 run to open up the second half.
Following a three-point play from Harris that had Fullerton leading 58-47 with 9:35 remaining in the game, the Islanders would come as close as 80-77 with 10 seconds remaining, but Fullerton would not concede.
Late plays down the stretch included an offensive rebound and dunk from McClellan with 1:56 to play as well as the Titans making 11-of-13 from the line in the three minutes of the game.
Fullerton held a 36-32 lead at halftime as Gentry scored eight points in the first half and the Titans shot 52.0 percent (13-of-25) from the floor.
The Islanders shot 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from the floor in the first 20 minutes led by Douvier's 12 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the free-throw line.
There were six lead changes and six ties in the first half, but the Titans ended the period on a 13-5 run over the final four minutes of the game as Fullerton shot 4-of-5 from the floor during that stretch, including knocking down two three-pointers.
Cal State Fullerton resumes its four-game homestand on Tuesday, Dec. 30 hosting Cal State East Bay at 7 pm. The Titans follow that game hosting Seattle at 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 3 at Titan Gym.
Notes: The Titans lead the all-time series with Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 2-1…Cal State Fullerton is now on a three-game winning streak, the longest for the program since winning four consecutive games from Dec. 13-29, 2012…sophomore guard Jordan Mason made his first appearance in a Titan uniform as he transferred to Fullerton following the fall 2013 term…the Titans scored a season high 82 points…former Titan player Yaphett King (2004-05) is currently an assistant coach with Texas A&M Corpus Christi…Alex Harris has scored in double figures for seven straight games, and his 29 points set a new season high as well as matching a career best…Harris recorded his fifth 20-point game of the year…Steve McClellan has led the Titans in rebounding for six straight games, and with 10 points and 10 rebounds he recorded his third double-double of the season and the sixth of his career…Josh Gentry's 14 points matched a season high…Cal State Fullerton matched a season high with 24 made free throws and set a season high with an .828 free-throw percentage…Harris' 23 points in the second half were the most for a Titan in a single half this year.
