Titans' Magic Ends in Pocatello Jan. 14, 2003– Pocatello, Idaho
Box Score
Idaho State, despite not scoring a field over the final 10:14, withheld
a late Fullerton rally to end the Titans' three-game winning streak with
a 74-66 win on Tuesday night.
The Bengals shot a blistering .545 in the opening half in bolting to a
36-25 lead at the break, and ISU slowly stretched that lead to 20 in the
second half at 56-36 at the 10:14 mark on a Jesse Smith layup, but that
would be the last field goal of the night for ISU. The Bengals would attempt
only six field goals the rest of the way, but they went to the line 26
times, hitting on 18.
The Bengals led 60-40 at the 7:41 mark after two Rashad Kirkland free
throws, , but in less than three minutes, Fullerton netted 11 points,
including a four-point play on a Marquis Poole technical foul, and it
went to 62-51. After a Jeremy Brown free throw made it 68-56 with 2:22,
the game looked to be in hand, but the Titans, who had won three straight,
all in overtime, got a pair of deep threes and with 1:14 left, it was
69-64 ISU. Marquis Poole hit a free throw, and Jamal Forcheney hit two
to make it 70-66 with 1:01 left, but Fullerton wouldn't score again, and
ISU hit 4-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal it.
Fullerton had its best night of the year at the foul line to help make
it interesting at the finish. The Titans made 21 of 24 tries with Anthony
Bolton hitting all eight of his attempts including 4-for-4 on a pair of
ISU technical fouls. Bolton finished with 20 points, matching his high
(20 at Sacramento State) as a Titan.
Ralphy Holmes was held scoreless for 19 minutes before getting 5 points
in the final minute of the first half. He had two free throws in the second
half before aggravating his right shoulder injury. He did not return to
the game. Fullerton fouled out three players and needed the services of
guard Denver Lopez in the final minute. He is back after missing a month
to an ankle injury.
Fullerton won the battle of the backboards, 35-28, after getting outrebounded
badly in a Dec. 14 home loss to Idaho State. But ISU hit 49 per cent from
the floor to Fullerton's 36 per cent.
The Bengals got off to a hot start in part to Ray Munyagi, who made his
first start in almost a month, and scored ISU's first eight points, matching
his season-high. Munyagi, who also is a career sub-.500 free throw shooter,
was 4-for-4 on the night from the stripe.
Fullerton will return to Big West action on Saturday against UC Riverside.
