ANAHEIM, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton advanced to the Big West Tournament semifinals as three players reached the 20-point threshold in an 81-68 victory over CSUN at Honda Center on Thursday in quarterfinal action.
The Titans, the No. 3 seed, will play No. 2 seed UC Davis at 9 p.m., Friday at Honda Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN/ESPNU. Tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE.
The win marked fourth-year head coach Dedrique Taylor's first Big West Tournament victory while also snapping a six-game losing streak at the conference tourney that dated back to 2010. Fullerton last advanced to the Big West Tournament semifinals in 2008, when the Titans went on to win the tournament championship.
The Titans (17-13) have now won nine of their last 11, while CSUN (11-19) exits the tournament ending its season on a six-game losing streak.
Kyle Allman and Lionheart Leslie scored 24 points apiece for Fullerton, while Tre' Coggins poured in 21 as three Titans scored at least 20 points for the first time since 2013.
For Leslie, his 24 points marked a new career high as the Houma, La., native produced a career-best effort of 12-of-14 from the free-throw line, matched a career-high with six assists and set a new career high grabbing six steals. He has now recorded 30 steals in his last eight games.
Allman recorded his second straight 20-point effort against CSUN as the sophomore shot 8-of-11 from the floor and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes on the floor.
Coggins recorded his 22nd 20-point game of his Titan career shooting 9-of-16 from the floor and knocking down three three-pointers.
The Titans trailed 41-37 at the half, but Fullerton opened the second period on a 12-4 run to take a 59-45 advantage with 11:39 to play.
Fullerton shot an impressive 54.7 percent (29-of-53) for the game, but in the second half managed a .600 (15-of-25) shooting percentage as the Titans outscored the Matadors 44-27 in the second half.
It was Fullerton's defense that spurred its second half comeback as the Titans were able to capitalize on CSUN's 12 second-half turnovers, leading to 17 points for Fullerton. In addition to Leslie, Khalil Ahmad was responsible for five Titan steals as Fullerton produced a season-best 13 steals.
CSUN had shot 54.8 percent (17-of-31) from the floor in the first half, but the Matadors were held to a .370 shooting percentage (10-of-27) in the final 20 minutes.
Fullerton was also aggressive to the basket, being awarded 22 free-throw attempts and connecting on 19 (.864).
CSUN was led by Kendall Smith's 21-point effort, while Tavrion Dawson chipped in 14 and Aaron Parks scored 10.
The Matadors crept back into the game with 5:44 to play, trailing 68-60 after Michael Warren nailed a three-pointer, but in the next two minutes the Titans went on a 6-0 run as Allman and Leslie scored.
Notes: Big West Freshman of the Year Jackson Rowe missed his third straight game with a foot injury. He is listed as day-to-day…Fullerton is 4-2 against CSUN at the Big West Tournament and leads the all-time series 43-35…Cal State Fullerton has an overall record of 23-35 at the Big West Tournament, and the Titans snapped a six-game losing streak at the tourney that dated back to 2010…the win was Fullerton's first at Honda Center in the Big West Tournament (1-5)… the Titans have been the No. 3 seed six times with a 13-4 record…Lionheart Leslie set career highs with 24 points, 12 free throws made and six steals…head coach Dedrique Taylor secured his first victory at the Big West Tournament in three tries…Fullerton set a new season high with 13 steals, tallying 91 steals in its last 10 games.
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