Despite a Horrid First Half, Titans Barely Lose, 57-56

GOLETA —  Just how it happened was hard to figure. Cal State Fullerton, after scoring just 15 points in the first half against UC Santa Barbara, came within two in-and-out shots in the final four seconds of an upset Thursday night.

But to the good fortune of the Gauchos, Richard Morton’s 17-foot shot and Henry Turner’s 12-foot follow shot both came off the rim, and Santa Barbara held on for a 57-56 victory in front of 3,849.

For the Gauchos, it was a close call that shouldn’t have been.

“It would have been a very demoralizing defeat,” said Jerry Pimm, Santa Barbara coach. “It was a semi-demoralizing victory.”

The Titans, who trailed by as many as 18, came back behind Morton’s 22 second-half points--including 4 of 5 three-pointers.

Morton finished with 31 points, and Turner had 14.

Fullerton cut the lead to nine points with less than six minutes remaining on a three-pointer by Morton. Two minutes later, Morton hit another three-pointer, making it 51-45, and Santa Barbara called time.

It didn’t slow the Titans’ run. Turner made a steal, and ended it with a dunk that left Santa Barbara with just a four-point lead.

The Gauchos got it back to six--in part thanks to a three-pointer by Brian Shaw, who led Santa Barbara with 17 points.

But with just more than a minute remaining, and the Titans in a full-court trap, Turner made a steal and hit a jumper from the foul line. Turner stole the ball again on the Gauchos’ next possession, and Morton hit a three-pointer that made it 55-54.

Santa Barbara finally broke Fullerton’s press on its next possession, but Carlton Davenport missed an open layup. Fullerton’s Vincent Blow was fouled battling for a rebound, and made two free throws, giving Fullerton a 56-55 lead.

After a Santa Barbara timeout, Shaw scored quickly on a 10-foot bank shot off a screen that gave the Gauchos a one-point lead with 23 seconds left.

Fullerton called a timeout with 15 seconds left, and then Morton and Turner each missed in the final seconds.

Fullerton (6-13, 2-10) had trailed, 31-15, at the half after going 10:44 seconds without scoring.