Weber State University Athletics
Monday, December 21
Logan, Utah
5:30 p.m.
Weber State University
82
vs
71
vs. Cal State Fullerton
Wildcats Use Big Second Half Surge to Defeat Cal State Fullerton 82-71 at the Basketball Travelers Invitational
12/22/2009 3:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Weber State played eight minutes of not so good, basketball. Unfortunately for Cal State Fullerton, the other 32 were very good as the Wildcats used a big second half surge to race past the Titans of the Big West Conference, 81-71 Monday night in the first round of the Basketball Travelers Invitational in Logan, Utah.
The Wildcats were the aggressors the first 12 minutes of the first half, jumping out to a 33-19 lead at the 7:47 mark on a lay up by Trevor Morris, WSU led 19-14 at the 11:58 mark but left the Titans standing hitting four straight three-pointers, three of them by LINDSEY HUGHEY, to take the 14 point lead.
The next eight minutes it was Weber State doing the standing as Cal State Fullerton rallied to take a 39-36 half time lead with a 22-3 scoring run. The Titans spread the scoring around during the run with JACQUES STREETER scoring seven, GERARD ANDERSON five and BRYCE WEBSTER, three.
The Wildcats hit 15-27 first half shots from the field and out rebounded the Titans 22-13, but managed just 5-14 from the three-point line and 1-5 free throw shooting..
“I told the team at half time that we had lost our aggressiveness and needed to charge on both ends,” said WSU head coach RANDY RAHE. “I really pleased with our effort in those first nine to ten minutes in the second half, especially on the defensive end. It seemed like we got every rebound and loose ball.”
WSU's second half charge was fueled by DAMIAN LILLARD who scored 13 of his 20 points in the final 20 minutes and FRANKLIN SESSION who had nine points, seven rebounds and five assists. Session was one assist away from posting a triple double. He ended the game with 14 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists in 38 minutes.
“Our emphasis in practice the past two days was rebounding,”said Rahe. “We needed to keep them to one or two shots a possession. To out rebound them, 46-27, is almost incomprehensible to me, but that's a strong indication of how well we focused on that aspect of the game.”
It took the Wildcats just 66 seconds to take the lead on two free throws from LILLARD and a three-pointer by NICK HANSEN. The Ttians tied the game at 44-43 with 17:28 left but the Wildcats went on a 20-8 scoring run over the next eight minutes to take a 12- point lead at 64-52 and cruised in for the victory.
The Wildcats had four players in double figure scoring with LINDSEY HUGHEY (14) and STEVE PANOS (12) joining LILLARD and SESSION. Cal State Fullerton's JACQUES STREETER led all scorers with 21 points, 14 of them in the second half.
Weber State moves to 6-5 overall while Cal State Fullerton drops to 4-4. Weber State will play Morehead State (Kentucky) on Tuesday night (Dec. 22) at 5:30 while Cal State Fullerton battles host Utah State at 8:00.
WEBER STATE NOTES
For the third straight game, Weber State had 10 or more made three-point shots, and for the fifth straight game attempted 20 or more three-pointers. .... Weber State, which had been shooting 76 percent from the free throw line in the first nine games of the season, is 24-39 (.615) in its last two games.
The Wildcats were the aggressors the first 12 minutes of the first half, jumping out to a 33-19 lead at the 7:47 mark on a lay up by Trevor Morris, WSU led 19-14 at the 11:58 mark but left the Titans standing hitting four straight three-pointers, three of them by LINDSEY HUGHEY, to take the 14 point lead.
The next eight minutes it was Weber State doing the standing as Cal State Fullerton rallied to take a 39-36 half time lead with a 22-3 scoring run. The Titans spread the scoring around during the run with JACQUES STREETER scoring seven, GERARD ANDERSON five and BRYCE WEBSTER, three.
The Wildcats hit 15-27 first half shots from the field and out rebounded the Titans 22-13, but managed just 5-14 from the three-point line and 1-5 free throw shooting..
“I told the team at half time that we had lost our aggressiveness and needed to charge on both ends,” said WSU head coach RANDY RAHE. “I really pleased with our effort in those first nine to ten minutes in the second half, especially on the defensive end. It seemed like we got every rebound and loose ball.”
WSU's second half charge was fueled by DAMIAN LILLARD who scored 13 of his 20 points in the final 20 minutes and FRANKLIN SESSION who had nine points, seven rebounds and five assists. Session was one assist away from posting a triple double. He ended the game with 14 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists in 38 minutes.
“Our emphasis in practice the past two days was rebounding,”said Rahe. “We needed to keep them to one or two shots a possession. To out rebound them, 46-27, is almost incomprehensible to me, but that's a strong indication of how well we focused on that aspect of the game.”
It took the Wildcats just 66 seconds to take the lead on two free throws from LILLARD and a three-pointer by NICK HANSEN. The Ttians tied the game at 44-43 with 17:28 left but the Wildcats went on a 20-8 scoring run over the next eight minutes to take a 12- point lead at 64-52 and cruised in for the victory.
The Wildcats had four players in double figure scoring with LINDSEY HUGHEY (14) and STEVE PANOS (12) joining LILLARD and SESSION. Cal State Fullerton's JACQUES STREETER led all scorers with 21 points, 14 of them in the second half.
Weber State moves to 6-5 overall while Cal State Fullerton drops to 4-4. Weber State will play Morehead State (Kentucky) on Tuesday night (Dec. 22) at 5:30 while Cal State Fullerton battles host Utah State at 8:00.
WEBER STATE NOTES
For the third straight game, Weber State had 10 or more made three-point shots, and for the fifth straight game attempted 20 or more three-pointers. .... Weber State, which had been shooting 76 percent from the free throw line in the first nine games of the season, is 24-39 (.615) in its last two games.
Players Mentioned
C
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