FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton men's basketball earned its first win of the season in the home-opening game on Saturday afternoon against West Coast Baptist by a score of 106-53. Freshman guard led the team in scoring with 23 points while each of the 11 Titans that played made at least one field goal.
The Titans (1-1) trailed 8-4 and then went on a 24-0 run to lead 28-10 at the halfway mark of the first half and that put the game in the bag. The Titans shot 58.8 percent from the field (40-68), 40.7 percent from three (11-27) and 62.5 percent from the charity stripe (15-24). Fullerton had 58 points in the paint while allowing just six and scored 26 points off turnovers. After having just seven assists in the first game of the season, the squad dished out 27 assists on 40 made baskets.
Arnold tallied 23 points in a team-high 33 minutes on 9-14 shooting from the field and 4-8 from distance. Sophomore forward Josh Pitts had a career-high 14 points and five rebounds in 11 minutes. Junior forward Jackson Rowe made his season debut and was quite effective with 16 points (6-7 FGA), seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. Junior guard Austen Awosika had a team-high five assists along with four rebounds, a career-high four blocks, a steal and just one turnover in 20 minutes. Junior guard Jamal Smith tied Awosika with a team-high five assists and led the team in steals with three. Smith scored six points, grabbed four rebounds and did not turn the ball over.
.@Zaiahbuckets on his career-high 23 points. #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/lpm77iUilb
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) November 11, 2018
The squad does not have another home game until homecoming on Dec. 1. The team embarks on a 13-day road trip that begins with the Myrtle Beach Invitational on Thursday against UCF. The entire three-game tournament will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.
.@CSFCoachTaylor on tonight's game and the Titans sharing the ball so well. #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/1FV8fM6XHs
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) November 10, 2018
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