Dec. 29, 2011

Final Stats

FULLERTON, Calif. - Sophomore Josh Ritchart tied a career-high with five three-pointers and UC Davis completed a 16-point comeback to tie the game late in the second half, but host Cal State Fullerton was able to squeak out a 65-64 win in the Big West Conference men's basketball opener for both teams on Thursday.

The loss moved the Aggies' overall record to 1-12 while Cal State Fullerton won its sixth straight and improved to 9-3. Ritchart had 19 points for UC Davis while Harrison Dupont added 11. Kwame Vaughn led the Titans with 17 points, pacing four players in double figures.

The Aggies trailed 36-20 with 3 minutes, 44 seconds left in the opening half and were down 43-30 at halftime. However, they shot 56 percent (14 of 25) from the floor after the break, got to within three points early in the second half and stayed close before tying the game 59-59 on Eddie Miller's jumper in the paint with just over two minutes to go.

UC Davis later trailed 63-61 while working for a final shot but Miller's attempt was off the mark. Vaughn, who earlier hit a key three-pointer after the Aggies tied it at 59-59, made two free throws after being fouled for a 65-61 lead. Ritchart's fifth three-pointer at the buzzer made it one-point game.

"In the second half we took away transition baskets, we got big stops, we got first rebounds, we executed well and got good shots offensively, and we didn't turn it over," said first-year coach Jim Les. "That translated into giving ourselves a chance to win."

Cal State Fullerton shot 57.7 percent (15 of 26) in the first half, leading by as many as 16 points. Orane Chin was a big part of the Titans' attack, hitting all five of his shots and scoring 10 points, matching Andre Hardy who also had 10 points.

The Titans used an early 9-0 run to forge an 11-2 lead just over three minutes in which went to double-digits at 16-5 and then eventually reached its pinnacle at 36-20 after seven straight points.

But the Aggies came out strong in the second half, opening with a 12-2 run over the first five minutes to climb to 45-42 after less than five minutes. DuPont had six points in the rally while three other Aggies also scored. Ritchart and Tyler Les later hit back-to-back three-pointers midway in the half to make it 49-48.

Cal State Fullerton opened the lead to 59-53 with less than five minutes to go but Alex Tiffin scored twice inside and Miller tied it with his bucket in the key with 2:15 remaining. Vaughn answered with a trey and the game stayed close the rest of the way.

Tyrell Corbin's layup in traffic brought the Aggies' deficit to 62-61 with 1:25 to go while D.J. Seeley's free throw with 25 seconds left set up the exciting finish.

Ritchart reached double figures for the first time in five games while making five three-pointers for the sixth time in his career and the third time this season. He was 5 for 11 from beyond the arc overall. DuPont was 5 for 12 from the floor while Tiffin supported his six points with a career-high 10 rebounds.

Seeley added 13 points for the Titans, Chin finished with 11 and Hardy had 10. The Titans were held to a season-low 39.3 percent from the floor, including just 23.3 percent (7 for 30)in the second half. The Aggies also outrebounded Cal State Fullerton, 35-34.

"I thought we did some really good things," said Les. "Now we've got to build on that."

The game brought to a close a season-long five-game roadtrip for UC Davis which will host UC Riverside next Thursday and UC Irvine on Jan. 7.

"Hopefully people will come out and support this team because you're watching a group mature before your eyes and before it's said and done they're going to be having some fun locker rooms versus the not-so-fun ones," said Les.

Tipoff for both games at The Pavilion is 7 p.m.