Cal State Fullerton's Christian Williams stole the show at the Mott Athletics Center, scoring 26 points to lead his team to a convincing 93-78 win over Cal Poly. The Titans' victory was fueled by a strong first-half performance, where they built a 12-point lead that the Mustangs were unable to overcome. Cal Poly's Cayden Ward tried to keep his team in the game, scoring 20 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to match the Titans' high-powered offense.
The game got off to a fast-paced start, with both teams trading baskets and playing tenacious defense. However, Cal State Fullerton's offense began to click midway through the first half, and they went on a 10-2 run to take a 10-point lead. The Mustangs fought back, but the Titans' lead had grown to 12 points by halftime, with the score 46-34 in favor of Cal State Fullerton. In the second half, the Titans continued to push the pace, outscoring the Mustangs 47-44 to secure the 15-point win.
CHD Scout had predicted a close game, with Cal Poly winning by a mere 0.6 points. However, the actual result was far from it, as the Titans dominated the Mustangs from start to finish. The loss was a significant blow to Cal Poly's resume, as it marked a Quadrant 4 defeat. For Cal State Fullerton, the win was also a Quadrant 4 victory, but it was a much-needed one, as they look to improve their tournament chances.
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Joshua Ward was another key contributor for the Titans, scoring 18 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists. His all-around performance helped to take some of the pressure off Christian Williams, who was able to focus on scoring and leading his team to victory. On the other side, Hamad Mousa and Jackson Mosley joined Cayden Ward in double figures, scoring 15 points each, but their efforts were not enough to overcome the Titans' balanced attack.
The win improves Cal State Fullerton's record to 10-12, while Cal Poly falls to 7-14. While the loss is a setback for the Mustangs, it's not a devastating blow to their tournament chances. However, they must regroup and refocus if they want to make a push for the postseason. For the Titans, the victory is a boost to their resume, but they still have a long way to go if they want to secure a tournament bid. As it stands, Cal State Fullerton's current net ranking of 200 will likely need to improve if they want to be considered for the tournament, making each remaining game a crucial one.