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CS Fullerton Ends 30-Year March Madness Drought
Marco Lassiter goes for a ride to celebrate his team's Big West win. (AP Images)
It’s been three decades since Cal State Fullerton reached the NCAA Tournament. The Titans ended the run of futility by clinching the Big West conference title late Saturday night, upending UC Irvine, 81-66, in Anaheim, Calif.
Behind 23 points from Josh Akognon, the Titans accomplished the feat and immediately drew comparisons to the school’s 1978 squad that reached the Elite Eight of March Madness.
CS Fullerton easily covered the point spread, which was 6.5 in its favor.
Akognon was named the tournament MVP. "It feels absolutely great," he said of the victory and the recognition. The Titans (24-8) could be a sleeper to watch because they’re deeper than most small-conference champions.
Scott Cutley was a co-Big West Player of the Year and in the title game he put up a double-double (22 points and 12).
In other conference championship action in college hoops on Saturday:
Boise State 107, New Mexico State 102: In the most thrilling game of the conference playoffs in any league, the Broncos needed triple-overtime to capture the Western Athletic Conference title. Boise State reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 14 years as Reggie Larry scored 31 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. New Mexico State beat the point spread, which was 6.5 in the Broncos’ favor.