SEATTLE — The Cal State Fullerton men's basketball team fell 69-62 to Seattle U on the road at Climate Pledge Arena Wednesday night.
Max Jones led the Titan offense with a season-high 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting, going 3-of-4 from deep and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. He also had four rebounds and three assists on the game. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. posted 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting to go with four rebounds and a pair of assists, while Vincent Lee had nine points and three rebounds for the Titans. Lathaniel Bastian had a near double-double with eight points and eight rebounds.
Fullerton led for the first 31 minutes of the game but couldn't hold off a late second-half surge from Seattle U, which took the lead for good at the 8:17 mark of the second period. The Titans shot 52.2% from the floor in the first half but 33.3% in the second, compared to Seattle U's 42.1% on the game. The loss moves the Titans' record to 4-4 on the season.
Vincent Lee completed a three-point play to start the game before a jumper and a three-pointer by Wrightsell Jr. gave the Titans an early 10-2 advantage. Fullerton extended its lead to 12, 19-7, with two more baskets from Wrightsell Jr. and a fast-break lay-in from Bastian.
Too easy for @LJWrightsell #DevelopU | #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/gpqdrYQPSu
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) December 1, 2022
The Titans continued their hot start, with a Grayson Carper triple from the left wing followed by another Bastian layup and a pair of free throws from Harris putting Fullerton up 32-18 with five minutes left in the half. The Redhawks started to claw their way back towards the end of the half, as a Jones three from the top of the key brought the score to 35-28 for the Titans at halftime. Wrightsell Jr. led Fullerton with nine points while Jones and Harris each had seven in the first half.
At the start of the second half, A Max Jones three-point play and a midrange jumper from Wrightsell Jr. gave Fullerton a 40-32 advantage three minutes into the period. A hook shot in the paint from Lee later brought the Titans' lead to seven, 46-39, with 12:46 to go.
Puttin' in work down low �� @vincemikelee #DevelopU | #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/53ZyLqopFy
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) December 1, 2022
The Redhawks responded with five straight points to cut into Fullerton's lead. Another basket in the paint from Lee put the Titans up 48-44, but a 7-0 Seattle U run then gave the Redhawks a 51-48 advantage with 7:24 left. Fullerton hung around, as another Lee lay-in and a Jones triple brought the Titans within three, 58-55, with 3:23 remaining.
A Bastian layup with 2:38 to go again brought Fullerton within three, 60-57, but that was as close as the Titans would get. Wrightsell Jr. just missed a would-be game-tying three on Fullerton's ensuing offensive possession, and Seattle U made a pair of timely baskets and five free throws down the stretch to seal the 69-62 win for the Redhawks.
Up next, the Titans play their fourth straight game away from Titan Gym next Wednesday, December 7th, at USC. Tip-off is slated for 8:00 p.m. PT.
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