HENDERSON, Nev. — Cal State Fullerton men's basketball fell 72-62 Saturday night in The Big West Championship game to UC Santa Barbara.
Max Jones scored 18 points to lead the Titans along with six rebounds and an assist. Tory San Antonio contributed 15 points, nine boards and two assists while Latrell Wrightsell Jr. had 15 points and four rebounds. Fullerton shot 42.9% from the floor but 14.3% from three, while the Gauchos shot 39.3% from the floor and 42.9% from distance.
Fullerton got out to an 11-5 advantage with seven early points from Jones and a Wrightsell Jr. jumper. The Gauchos came back to take a 20-19 advantage with 7:30 left in the half. UCSB extended its lead to six, 32-26, before a Jalen Harris triple and Wrightsell Jr. lay-in cut the Titans' deficit, 32-31. The Gauchos took a 33-31 lead into the locker room.
.@jalenh2 got him stumblin' ����#DevelopU | #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Wb72iY1ibf
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) March 12, 2023
Baskets from Jones, Harris and San Antonio gave Fullerton a 37-35 lead early in the second half. The Gauchos scored 10 straight to go up 45-37 before a Wrightsell Jr. trey stopped the run. Back-to-back three-point plays from Jones and San Antonio followed by a Vincent Lee layup then gave Fullerton a 48-47 advantage.
TSA three-point play �� @Kidxtory #DevelopU | #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/KKDD5vXedX
— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) March 12, 2023
A Jones driving layup later brought the score to 55-54 for UCSB with 5:18 to go. But the Gauchos used an 8-0 run to go up 63-54 with 2:09 left. San Antonio and Wrightsell Jr. scored layups down the stretch, but UCSB kept the Titans at bay with a flurry of free throws, sealing the 72-62 Big West Championship win.
Wrightsell Jr. and San Antonio were both named to the All-Big West Championship Team for their efforts in Fullerton's three tournament games.
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