Fullerton manages to get past Pacific

Josh Akognon and Scott Cutley scored 24 points apiece to lead Cal State Fullerton to a 92-78 victory over Pacific on Saturday at Fullerton.

Frank Robinson and Marcus Morgan each had 13 points for the Titans, 17-7 overall, 9-3 Big West Conference, who have won three games in a row and seven of eight.

James Doran came off the bench to score 12 points for the Tigers (17-8, 8-4). Steffan Johnson also scored 12 points and Bryan LeDuc had 10 points.

After Chad Troyer’s three-point basket got Pacific to within 66-58 with 9:38 to play, the Titans went on a 15-7 run for the game’s biggest lead at 81-65 with 3:52 left.

Doran kept the Tigers close by making four three-point shots over the final five minutes.

Fullerton used a 12-0 run to take a 31-19 lead with six minutes left in the first half. Akognon and Cutley each scored five points during the spurt.

Pacific narrowed the deficit to 42-39 on C.J. Morgan’s three-point basket with 18:14 to play. But Cutley’s basket and Akognon’s three-pointer extended the Titans’ lead to 47-39 with 16:52 left.

Cutley made 10 of 13 shots, including all three if his three-point attempts. He scored 14 points in the second half.

Akognon broke out of a prolonged shooting slump to make nine of 13 shots, including four of seven three-pointers.

Fullerton scored 46 points in the paint, and added 40 more off 23 turnovers.

Cal State Northridge 73, UC Riverside 61 -- Josh Jenkins made three three-point baskets as part of a decisive 19-5 run late in the second half at Northridge for the Big West Conference-leading Matadors (17-6, 9-2).

Larry Cunningham had 15 of his 22 points during a 21-2 run that pulled the Highlanders (5-17, 2-9) to within 52-50 with 6:27 left. Northridge went scoreless for a span of 4:26.

UC Santa Barbara 77, UC Davis 73 -- The Gauchos (19-6, 8-4 Big West) led for the entire second half, holding off the host Aggies (8-17, 2-10) as they attempted to win for the first time in eight games.

It was 69-67 when Justin Joyner missed two free throws with 53.3 seconds left. Santa Barbara’s Chris Devine got the rebound and after a timeout, James Powell made a jump shot to extend the lead.

Cal State Bakersfield 77, Long Beach State 71 -- The host Roadrunners (8-17) shot 57% from the field in the second half and put the game away with a late 21-8 run. Donovan Morris posted his fourth 30-plus point game of the season, scoring a game-high 32 for the 49ers (6-18).

No. 25 St. Mary’s 80, Loyola Marymount 49 -- Freshman Patrick Mills scored 22 points, including four three-pointers, to lead the Gaels (22-3, 9-1 West Coast Conference) over the host Lions (5-21, 2-8). Freshman Orlando Johnson had 14 points and six rebounds for Loyola. St. Mary’s remained tied for first place in the conference with Gonzaga.

Pepperdine 64, Santa Clara 58 -- The Waves (9-17, 3-7 West Coast) held off a late surge by the Broncos (12-12, 4-5) at Malibu. The loss overshadowed a big night for Santa Clara’s John Bryant, who made all 11 of his shots to score 25 points. He also had 12 rebounds and five blocks.

Former Pepperdine coach Tom Asbury, who is in negotiations to return to the school he last coached at in 1994, said Saturday “it wouldn’t be a real difficult transition, in some regards.

“I don’t think we’re ready to sign a contract yet, but I think it would be a fun opportunity to go back . . . not an easy opportunity, but a very fun situation.

“There’s no big sticking point, just deciding if I want to do it. My wife is involved and she’s had some health issues, but she’s been doing well lately.”

-- Robyn Norwood