SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Mikh McKinney's game-high 21 points sparked Sacramento State to a 73-59 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Thursday night at the Hornets Nest.
The Titans (3-7) have now lost three-straight games, while the Hornets improve to 5-3 this season.
McKinney scored his 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting while adding three assists and a game-high six steals. He was one four Hornets in double figures as Alex Tiffin added 15 points off the bench shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.
Cody Demps poured in 14 points with three rebounds and four assists while Dylan Garrity added 11 points, knocking down three 3-pointers, dishing five assists and grabbing three steals.
Moses Morgan led Cal State Fullerton with 15 points, draining three buckets from long distance, while Alex Harris added 12 points and a career-high tying as well as a game-high seven assists.
Josh Gentry scored 11 points for Cal State Fullerton, while Steve McClellan chipped in 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting with a game-high seven rebounds.
The Titans shot a season-high 50.0 percent (22-of-44) from the floor, but Sacramento State was able to score 15 points off Fullerton's game-high 15 turnovers. In addition, in a close second half, the Titans shot just 3-of-9 from the charity stripe while the Hornets managed to knock down 18-of-19 freebies for the game.
Cal State Fullerton trailed 33-24 at halftime, but opened the second half on a 10-4 run to close 37-34 with 17:19 to play as Gentry capped the stretch with a thunderous dunk. After Sacramento State pushed its advantage back to five points, the Titans took their only lead of the second half, 40-39, after Morgan knocked down back-to-back long distance shots.
Tiffin completed a three-point play for Sacramento State as the Hornets led 60-53 with 4:47 remaining, and Garrity's three-pointer at the 1:23 mark extended Sacramento State's lead to 67-59, forcing the Titans to foul.
The Hornets knocked down six of their final six free throw attempts to end the game.
The Titans return to action at 7 p.m., Saturday at Nevada.
Notes: Cal State Fullerton is on a three-game losing streak – its longest of the season…Cal State Fullerton is 0-6 on the road this season…Sacramento State leads the all-time series 7-6…Steve McClellan led the Titans on the boards for the third straight game…Fullerton is now 0-2 when four players score in double figures…the Titans lost their fifth game of the year by double digits…Fullerton lost for the first time this year despite boasting a higher shooting percentage .500-.472 than its opponent…Cal State Fullerton' 16 assists set a new season high while Alex Harris' seven assists matched a career best.
