SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Cal State Fullerton men's basketball defeated UC Santa Barbara 74-60 Monday night on the road behind a game-high 18 points from Max Jones. The win is Fullerton's fifth in a row and improves the Titans' record to 17-12 overall and 11-6 in Big West play.
Jones shot 7-of-10 from the floor to reach 18 points while adding four assists, two steals and a pair of rebounds. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. contributed 15 points, four rebounds and four assists, while John Mikey Square had a Titan career-high 15 points and seven boards off the bench.
Jones got a jumper to fall and hit a three from the left wing to give the Titans a 17-11 advantage early. Square and Lathaniel Bastian traded layups, Grayson Carper hit a triple and Tory San Antonio hit a runner high off the glass to cap a 9-0 run and give Fullerton a 28-16 lead.
.@Kidxtory �� off the glass
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) February 21, 2023
Titans are on a 9-0 run❕#DevelopU | #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/3yVQLX3v8C
Baskets from Wrightsell Jr. and Square upped the Titans' lead to 32-18. Jones found Jalen Harris for a trey from the left wing as Fullerton took a 39-28 advantage into the locker room. Jones led all scorers in the first half with nine points, while Square had seven.
The Gauchos trimmed their deficit to seven five minutes into the second half before a Jones layup and Carper triple put the Titans up 15, 51-36. Square completed back-to-back three-point plays with a block in between to extend Fullerton's lead, 60-43.
Flex on 'em Mikey ��#DevelopU | #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/dO7XmzYT8o
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) February 21, 2023
The Titans kept their foot on the gas, with a Wrightsell Jr. stepback midrange jumper bringing the score to 66-51 for Fullerton. Jones scored a layup and Square and Wrightsell Jr. each added a pair of free throws as the Titans came away with the 74-60 win.
Fullerton returns home to take on UC Davis on Thursday, February 23rd. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PT.
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