Junior guard Tray Maddox Jr. scored a career-high 30 points, but Cal State Fullerton dropped an 85-78 decision against UC San Diego in the regular-season finale for both teams on Saturday night at UCSD’s RIMAC Arena.
Fullerton, which was swept in the two-game series, now heads to the 10-team Big West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas. The Titans (6-9 overall, 5-7 Big West) are the No. 7 seed and will face No. 10 seed Cal Poly (3-19, 1-15) in a first-round game on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The winner advances to a Thursday night quarterfinal against No. 2 seed UC Irvine (16-8, 10-4).
Redshirt sophomore forward Vincent Lee (12 points, five rebounds), freshman guard Dante Maddox Jr. (10 points) and sophomore guard Tory San Antonio (12 points, eight rebounds and four assists) also scored in double figures for the Titans. Maddox Jr. added four rebounds and three assists to go with his big scoring night.
Reserve forward Toni Rocak scored a season-high 26 points on 12-for-16 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds to pace UCSD (7-10 overall). Mikey Howell had 17 points and 13 assists, Gabe Hadley added 12 points and Jake Killingsworth had 11.
Fullerton led for half of Saturday’s game, which had 15 lead changes and five ties. The Titans shot 49.2% (30 for 61) overall, including a 9-for-18 showing from 3-point range. They were 9 for 10 from the free-throw line.
UCSD, which staved off a late Fullerton rally to win Friday’s game, 89-85, led by as much as 10 points in the rematch. The Tritons, who were 16 for 33 from 3-point range in Friday’s win, again shot well. They made 59.6% overall (34 for 57), including a 10-for-19 mark from beyond the arc.
Games against Big West newcomer UCSD do not count in the conference standings, and the Tritons will not participate in the conference tournament.
BIG WEST TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Michelob ULTRA Arena, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas (all times PT)
Tuesday, March 9
No. 8 Cal State Northridge vs. No. 9 Long Beach State – 3 p.m. (ESPN3)
No. 7 Cal State Fullerton vs. No. 10 Cal Poly (SLO) – 6 p.m. (ESPN3)
Thursday, March 11
No. 1 UC Santa Barbara vs. No. 8/No. 9 winner – 11 a.m. (ESPN3)
No. 4 UC Davis vs. No. 5 Cal State Bakersfield – 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
No. 2 UC Irvine vs. No. 7/No. 10 winner – 5 p.m. (ESPN3)
No. 3 UC Riverside vs. No. 6 Hawaii – 8 p.m. (ESPN3)
Friday, March 12
Semifinal No. 1 – 6 p.m. (ESPN3)
Semifinal No. 2 – 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
Saturday, March 13
Championship Game – 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
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