NORTHRIDGE, CA – Leading scorer Alex Harris returned to the Cal State Fullerton lineup after missing three games and scored 18 points and matched his season high with 7 assists but the Titans still dropped a critical Big West Conference game Thursday at CSUN, 82-72.

The Matadors (8-22, 3-11) got 24 points and 13 rebounds from Stephen Maxwell, 22 points from Stefan Hicks and 12 points off the bench from Aaron Parks to overcome a 12-point deficit and take a game and a half lead over Fullerton (9-19, 1-12) in their battle for the eighth and final berth in the post-season tournament. 

Harris also shared the team lead with Steve McClellan with 6 rebounds.  McClellan added 12 points and Lanerryl Johnson again came off the bench for 16 points.

CSUN won the game at the free-throw line, making 26 of 30 including its first 19.  CSUN came in leading the Big West at 76 percent and shot 87 percent.  The Matadors are last in 3-point shooting but in this game made 6 of 11.  Fullerton made only 10 of 18 free throws.

Fullerton must now win at least two of its three remaining games to have any chance at post-season.     Fullerton plays at Long Beach State and UC Irvine and hosts Hawai'i.  CSUN hosts UC Riverside and visits Long Beach.

The Titans were hot early and used a 12-0 run to turn a 13-9 deficit into a 21-13 lead.  The advantage reached its apex at 29-17 on a Jordan Mason 3-pointer with about 7 minutes to go in the half.  CSUN closed the gap to 39-35 at the half and regained the lead at 57-55 on a 3-pointer by Hicks with 7:08 to play.

Parks scored 10 of his points in the final 4 minutes as the Matadors slowly pulled away.

CSUN made 12 of 16 free throws in the final 2 minutes and its first miss came at 1:40 by Parks.

Harris had sat out the last three games with a thigh contusion.  He began the night averaging 16.1 points.