Fresno State Rolls Over Fullerton, 67-53 : Bulldogs Get Off to a Fast Start on Way to Finishing Off Titans

FRESNO —  When Cal State Fullerton and Fresno State met earlier this month at Titan Gym in Fullerton, the Titans upset the Bulldogs, 52-51, on a tip-in at the buzzer by Kerry Boagni.

Neither Boagni nor the Titans were given a chance to repeat the feat Saturday. In their last home game of the season, the Bulldogs rolled to an easy 67-53 victory before 10,132 fans at Selland Arena.

The win improved Fresno’s overall record to 19-6 and its Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. record to 14-2. Fullerton fell to 13-12 and 9-7.

All that stands between the Bulldogs and a share of first place in the PCAA with Nevada Las Vegas is their Feb. 4 loss to Fullerton. On Saturday, urged on by the Red Wave, they made sure of not falling further behind.

Boagni, a transfer from Kansas of the Big Eight, said he was impressed by Fresno’s vociferous fans.

“It reminded me of Kansas State or Oklahoma because of all the red,” he said. “You could tell they were more fired up this time. Well, we won at home and they won here. We’re even.”

Not exactly. Fullerton may have split its season series with Fresno, but the teams are hardly even in the standings.

The Titans, in third place, are 6 1/2 games behind first-place UNLV and five behind Fresno State. Utah State, beaten by San Jose State Saturday night, is now tied for fourth place with the Spartans, a game behind the Titans.

The Bulldogs set the pace of the game from the start, building a 12-3 lead behind their usual aggressive zone defense and patient, workmanlike offense.

The Fresno defense stretched Fullerton’s offense so far out that the visitors usually managed only one shot per possession in the first 20 minutes.

Fresno State led, 32-15, at the half after limiting Fullerton to 29% shooting (7 of 24) while hitting 65% (15 of 23).

The Titans eventually improved their shooting percentage to 42% by the end of the game, but by then it was too late.

Scott Barnes and Jos Kuipers led the Bulldogs with 19 and 17 points, respectively, while Boagni paced the Titans with 13.