Big West Roundup : Fullerton, Ceballos Outlast Pacific’s Bombers, 72-69

Cedric Ceballos, benched at the start of the second half, scored 19 points in 24 minutes to lead Cal State Fullerton to a 72-69 victory over University of the Pacific Thursday night at Titan Gym.

Pacific (5-19 overall and 1-14 in the Big West Conference), which has lost 12 consecutive games this season and 22 straight on the road over two seasons, fell short when Dell Demps’ three-point shot missed with seven seconds left.

Ceballos was benched for refusing to remove a sweat band he wore in honor of teammate Marlon Vaughn, who was suspended for the game.

After sitting out the first 11 minutes 41 seconds of the second half, Ceballos took off the sweat band, and Coach John Sneed sent him back into the game.

“(Ceballos) wasn’t within our system,” Sneed said. “He’s got to understand we’ve got good players who can come in and replace him.”

Van Anderson, who replaced Ceballos, was shooting just 19% but hit three three-pointers and finished with 12 points.

Other players who wore sweatbands or tape in honor of Vaughn took theirs off at Sneed’s request.

The Titans (13-11, 8-7) staved off Pacific and its three-point shooters--Reggie Ricks and Demps, who combined for 11 three-pointers.

Ricks scored 20 points, and Demps had 17.