Titans Find Solution for Troubles: Long Beach

Playing against Long Beach State seems to bring out the best in Cal State Fullerton.

It did again Saturday in the Pyramid.

Two days earlier, the Titans had turned in a lifeless performance at Pacific, but they were a different team against the 49ers.

Fullerton dominated rebounding and shot 47% from the floor on the way to a 74-65 victory in front of 3,891.

It was Fullerton’s fourth consecutive victory against the 49ers and fifth in the last six games between the teams. The outcome left Fullerton (13-11, 7-7) a half-game behind third-place Long Beach (11-14, 8-7) in the Western Division of the Big West Conference.

“This was a real challenge for us after the way we played at Pacific,” Titan center Matt Caldwell said. “Our mentality this time was that every rebound was ours.”

Caldwell brought down a team-leading 10 rebounds and scored 15 points. Forward Mark Richardson had 13 points, and Kenroy Jarrett and Ike Harmon each had 12 for the Titans.

It was Jarrett’s second game back after being on the sidelines for two games with a broken bone in his right hand. “It was a gutsy performance by Kenroy,” Titan Coach Bob Hawking said.

Jarrett was two of three on three-point shots and six of nine at the free-throw line.

Long Beach guard Ramel Lloyd had 21 points, but the Titans held center Mate Milisa to 12. Milisa had scored 25, with five three-point baskets, when the Titans beat the 49ers in overtime earlier this season.

“We felt we needed to contain Milisa,” Hawking said. “He really hurt us the last time, so holding him as well as we did was significant.”

The 49ers shot only 38% from the field and Hawking was pleased with the zone defense the Titans used at times. “We felt like it might work to our advantage and neutralize some of their athletic ability,” Hawking said. “It proved effective.”

Fullerton’s 44-32 rebounding advantage also was important. “It was a big difference from the other night at Pacific,” Hawking said. The Titans had only four offensive rebounds and 20 for the game in the 16-point loss to the Tigers.

Long Beach Coach Wayne Morgan blamed the defeat on his team’s poor shooting, but 49er forward D’Cean Bryant said it was more than just that.

“We discussed how important this game was, but coming up with the big plays is heart, and Fullerton stepped up,” Bryant said. “It was frustrating. We wanted to show them that we weren’t the same team we were the last time, but they jumped on us right off the bat.”

Fullerton led by 11 points midway through the first half. The Titans were on top, 33-26, at halftime and were ahead by as many as 13 points in the second half. Long Beach cut the deficit to six points with 1 minute 44 seconds to play, but Jason Cunningham broke open for a reverse layup and then stole the ball. Cunningham scored six points in the final 2 1/2 minutes.

“Jason and I had a talk before the game about us stepping up as the two seniors, and I think we did, me in the first half and Jason at the end of the game,” said Richardson, who scored nine points in the first half.

The victory gave Fullerton a sweep over Long Beach State and UC Irvine, for the second year in a row, and equaled the most victories in a season in five years under Hawking.

With two games left in the regular season, the Titans remain in contention for a spot in the Big West postseason tournament, and can be assured of their first winning season since 1992-93 with one more victory. A loss by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo allowed the 49ers to clinch a tournament berth.