LONG BEACH, Calif. – Fullerton Men's Basketball fell 71-61 on Tuesday night at the Walter Pyramid.
Tray Maddox Jr. and Jalen Harris lead the Titans in scoring with 15 points each, while Vincent Lee added eight points and 12 rebounds, but it was Long Beach who pulled away in the second half and took the win.
The Titans had two early steals, one by Anosike and one by Damari Milstead, setting the tone on the defensive end.
Picking pockets and euro-steppin.@EAnosike55 x #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/6pa3LKopdu
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) February 9, 2022
Milstead followed up his steal with a dime in transition to Vincent Lee, who slammed it home, giving the Titans an early 11-8 lead.
We know the Super Bowl isn't until Sunday, but @DamariMilstead is out here throwing dimes to @vincemikelee.#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/LDgpfWhkoE
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) February 9, 2022
Jalen Harris provided a spark off the bench, sinking a three and nailing a floater to tie the game at 16 with just under eight minutes left in the half.
Tray Maddox Jr. then hit an and-1 to give the Titans an 19-18 lead, and Fullerton would go on a 6-0 run to take a 24-18 lead with 5:30 remaining in the half.
Fullerton would extend the lead to double-digits 31-20 with 2:12 left in the half. But Long Beach would close the gap, and the Titans took a 33-28 lead into the halftime break.
Anosike went to work down low for a bucket and Tory San Antonio drilled a three to give the Titans a 38-31 lead.
The Beach would go on a 7-0 run of their own to tie the game at 38-38 with 14 minutes left in the game.
Long Beach would then take a 41-38 lead, as the Titans struggled to break down LBSU's full-court press.
Tray Maddox Jr. would hit his second three of the night, cutting the deficit to 43-42 with 10:35 left in the game.
You can't leave @TraveonMaddoxJr wide open like that!#Tusksup pic.twitter.com/aEOeq5DuWI
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) February 9, 2022
He would hit another three on the next possession, tying the game at 45-45. A few possessions later, with 5:29 left in the game, Anosike nailed a triple to tie it up again, this time at 52-52.
Long Beach would then hit back-to-back threes of their own to take a 60-54 lead with 2:58 left in the game.
Jalen Harris hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 62-59 before LBSU would pull away, as Jadon Jones hit a three to give the Beach a 68-61 lead, and Long Beach would end up winning, 71-61.
Up Next: The Titans continue their road trip at Hawai'i on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on national TV on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. pacific time.
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