LA JOLLA — The Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball team caught fire in the second half and took care of the ball all night to take down UC San Diego, 88-71, on Thursday night.
Christian Williams had a season-high 22 points and three steals and shot 6 for 10 from 3-point range for the Titans (7-10 overall, 2-3 Big West), who shot 71% from the field in the second half, when they led by as much as 20 points.
Landon Seaman added 14 points while (3 for 4 from 3-point range), while Bryce Cofield, Joshua Ward and Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro each scored 12 points. Cofield added a team-best six rebounds and De La Cruz Monegro had a team-high six assists.
Fullerton, which trailed by 10 midway through the first half, shot a season-best 51% (15 for 29) from behind the arc for the night and had a 25-6 advantage in points off turnovers, with UCSD (12-4, 2-2) turning it over 17 times compared to just six for the Titans.
UCSD had the hot hand from distance to begin the game, hitting five of its first 10 3-point shots, while opening a 22-12 lead on a Bol Dengdit 3-pointer with 10:18 left in the first half. The Tritons hit a drought and Fullerton got within a point before a pair of Trap Johnson 3-pointers extended UCSD’s lead.
The Titans closed the first half on a 10-0 run and took a 35-32 lead to the locker room, then picked up where they left off to begin the second half.
Fullerton made six straight shots during a 14-3 run to open a 49-35 lead less than four minutes into the second half. The Titans never cooled off (going 9 for 13 from 3-point range after halftime), while UCSD struggled. Fullerton held its biggest lead at 78-58 with six minutes left.
The Titans’ 88 points are the most UCSD has allowed all season.
Bol Dengdit had 15 points and five rebounds to lead UCSD. Alex Chaikin added 14 points, and Aidan Burke finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
UP NEXT
Fullerton hosts Cal State Northridge on Saturday at 4 p.m.
