The Cal State-Fullerton Titans secured a hard-fought 86-82 win over the Long Beach State Beach at the Walter Pyramid, with Joshua Ward leading the charge with 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. Ward's impressive performance helped the Titans overcome a 48-41 halftime deficit, outscoring Long Beach State 45-34 in the second half. Petar Majstorovic had a game-high 22 points for Long Beach State, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of Cal State-Fullerton, which saw three players score in double figures, including Bryce Cofield with 18 points and 7 rebounds.
Joshua Ward's 7 Assists Mark a Season-High for Cal State-Fullerton
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Long Beach State taking a 48-41 lead into halftime. However, Cal State-Fullerton came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Beach 45-34 to secure the 4-point victory. The Titans' 45 second-half points were fueled by 53.8% shooting from the field, including 5 three-pointers. Long Beach State, on the other hand, struggled to find its rhythm in the second half, shooting just 35.1% from the field. The Beach's Petar Majstorovic had a notable performance, scoring 22 points on 8-15 shooting, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Titans' balanced attack. Cal State-Fullerton's 86 points were the most they've scored in a game since their 92-85 win over UC Irvine on January 15.
Joshua Ward and Petar Majstorovic were the top performers for their respective teams, with Ward scoring 22 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists. Majstorovic had 22 points and 5 rebounds for Long Beach State, while Bryce Cofield added 18 points and 7 rebounds for Cal State-Fullerton. Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro also had a notable performance for the Titans, scoring 12 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. For Long Beach State, Shaquil Bender and Gavin Sykes each scored 12 points, but the Beach's supporting cast wasn't enough to overcome the Titans' strong team effort. Ward's 7 assists were a game-high, and his 22 points marked his fourth 20-point game of the season.
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The Titans outshot the Beach 49.2% to 43.1% from the field, including 40% to 30.8% from three-point range. Cal State-Fullerton also outrebounded Long Beach State 37-32, with Bryce Cofield and Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro each grabbing 7 and 6 rebounds, respectively. The Titans' 86 points were the most they've scored in a non-conference game this season, and their 45 second-half points were the most they've scored in a half since their 92-85 win over UC Irvine on January 15. Long Beach State's 82 points were their highest total since their 85-78 win over Cal Poly on January 22.
The CHD Scout model predicted a Long Beach State win by 0.9 points, but the actual result was a 4-point Cal State-Fullerton victory. This marks the model's third incorrect prediction in the last five games, and it highlights the challenges of predicting outcomes in college basketball. The model correctly identified Petar Majstorovic as a key player for Long Beach State, but it underestimated the impact of Joshua Ward and the Cal State-Fullerton supporting cast. The Titans' 86 points were 7 more than the model's predicted total, and their 45 second-half points were 10 more than the model's projected total.
The win improves Cal State-Fullerton's record to 13-13, while Long Beach State falls to 8-17. This game was a Quadrant 4 matchup for both teams, with Cal State-Fullerton's NET ranking improving to 194. Long Beach State's NET ranking remains at 251, and the loss drops their Quadrant 4 record to 2-12. The win is a significant boost to Cal State-Fullerton's tournament resume, as it marks their third Quadrant 4 win of the season. The Titans' next game is against UC Santa Barbara on February 15, and a win would improve their Big West Conference record to 7-6.
Cal State-Fullerton's next game is against UC Santa Barbara on February 15, while Long Beach State hosts Cal Poly on February 17. The Titans want to build on their momentum from this win, while the Beach will try to bounce back from their disappointing loss. Cal State-Fullerton's game against UC Santa Barbara will be a crucial matchup in the Big West Conference standings, with the Titans currently sitting in fifth place.