BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Cal State Fullerton men's basketball defeated CSU Bakersfield 70-66 in overtime Saturday afternoon on the road for its sixth straight win. The result improves the Titans' record to 18-12 overall and 12-6 in Big West play.
Jalen Harris knocked down a three from straightaway to put Fullerton up 58-53 with 4:52 left in the game before both teams went scoreless for the next three minutes. Bakersfield's Travis Henson hit a shot to come within three, 58-55, with 1:42 left, but Harris knocked down a pair of free throws with 23 seconds to go to put Fullerton back up five, 60-55.
Needed that one �� @jalenh2 #DevelopU | #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/c1xSo1fBXK
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) February 25, 2023
Henson got a dunk to bring the score to 60-57 and Bakersfield fouled Tory San Antonio with nine seconds left. San Antonio missed both free throw attempts, and with one second remaining Henson hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 60 and force overtime.
Fullerton took control early in the overtime period, with baskets from Max Jones and Vincent Lee putting the Titans up 64-60. A pair of free throws from Jones and San Antonio gave Fullerton a 68-60 advantage. Bakersfield scored six straight to come within two, 68-66, but with 11 seconds remaining San Antonio iced the game with another pair of free throws, sealing the 70-66 overtime win for Fullerton.
.@vincemikelee puts the Titans up four early in OT ��#DevelopU | #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Ycz9yKBO19
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) February 25, 2023
Jones led the Titans with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go with three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Harris contributed 15 points and two rebounds while Latrell Wrightsell Jr. had 12 points and six boards. San Antonio tallied nine points, five assists and four rebounds.
Teams traded baskets to start the game, with a pair of triples from Wrightsell Jr. giving the Titans a 10-7 lead early. The Roadrunners scored seven unanswered, but treys from Jalen Harris and Tory San Antonio brought Fullerton within three, 23-20. Jones completed a three-point play and got a fast break lay-in to fall as the Titans trailed by a point, 33-32, at the half.
Fullerton took the lead early in the second half, with San Antonio finding Lee for a lay-in while being fouled to put the Titans up four, 39-35. Jones finished a driving layup at the rim to extend Fullerton's lead to four, 44-38, and a Grayson Carper triple later put the Titans up 47-40.
.@Max_jones23 getting to the rim at will ��#DevelopU | #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Me7fQq1UpC
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) February 25, 2023
Bakersfield fought back to take the lead before another Carper three gave Fullerton a 55-53 advantage with 5:30 left. Harris' three with 4:52 remaining put the Titans up 58-53 before the Roadrunners came back to force overtime.
Fullerton returns home for Senior Night next Saturday, March 4th, against UC San Diego. The game is slated to tip off at 6:00 p.m. PT.
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