SPARTNABURG, S.C. – Senior guard Alex Harris scored a game-high 26 points as the Cal State Fullerton men's basketball team concluded play at the Spartanburg Marriott Upstate Classic with a 64-61 victory over Florida International at the Hodge Center on Saturday.
The Titans (3-4) finished the three-day tournament with a 2-1 record as Florida International's overall record moved to 4-3 on the year.
Harris scored a season-high 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting while converting 9-of-13 at the free-throw line, grabbing six rebounds and dishing three assists.
Lanerryl Johnson scored in double figures for the fourth straight-game adding 11 points, three assists and five steals. Sophomore Joe Boyd added eight points and a team-leading seven rebounds.
The Titans shot 42.9 percent (21-of-49) from the floor and 73.1 percent (19-of26) from the free-throw line.
Harris scored 15 of his points in the first half including a bucket that gave Fullerton its first double-digit lead, 24-14, with 8:09 remaining in the period as the Titans held a 36-27 edge at the break.
During that first 20 minutes of action, the Titans shot 51.9 percent (14-of-27) from the floor, including an 18-12 edge in the paint as well as five second-chance points.
In the second half, the Titans had a double-digit lead, 44-34, at the 14:12 mark of the second half after Harris scored, but the Panthers began to chip away.
Florida International used an 8-0 run to close within 44-42 with 12:05 to play, but FIU could not tie or take the lead as the Titans led for nearly the entire game including all of the second half.
After closing 44-42, a Josh Gentry jumper pushed the Titan lead back to 52-44 on an 8-2 run as Harris scored and freshman Jamar Akoh buried the first three-pointer of his career during the stretch.
Dennis Mavin led Florida International with 22 points on a 9-of-11 effort from the free-throw line while Adrian Diaz scored 15 points to go along with eight rebounds. Dominique Williams poured in 11 points with seven rebounds for the Panthers.
FIU shot 38.9 percent (21-of-54) from the floor and the Titans held a slight 35-33 rebounding advantage.
The Titans will play their fifth-straight game away from home on Wednesday at No. 22 UCLA with tip-off scheduled for 9 p.m., and the game set to be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network. Fullerton returns to Titan Gym at 6 p.m., Saturday vs. Pepperdine.
Notes: Alex Harris scored a season-high 26 points recording his second 20-point game of the year and the 11th of his career. He has led Fullerton in scoring twice this season…Cal State Fullerton totaled a season-high 11 steals…Joe Boyd led the Titans in rebounds for the sixth time season…Lanerryl Johnson scored in double figures for the fourth straight game.
