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    Cal State Fullerton men fall to Hawaii on 3-point buzzer-beater
    • March 1, 2026

    FULLERTON — The Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball team was on the cusp of an upset of Hawaii – twice – on Saturday night, but the Rainbow Warriors used a 14-0 run to grab a late lead before needing a 3-point shot as time expired to edge the Titans, 87-85, at Titan Gym.

    Dre Bullock hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cap the wild finish, which helped the Warriors (21-7 overall, 13-5 Big West) maintain at least a share of the Big West lead heading into the final two games of the regular season.

    Hawaii erased a nine-point deficit in the final 3:37 with its 14-0 run then nearly squandered a five-point lead in the final 29 seconds before Bullock’s heroics gave the Warriors a win in the program’s final Big West road game.

    The Titans celebrated their four seniors, Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro, Landon Seaman, Henderson and Ward on Saturday night. Each senior made an impact on the game, posting a combined 51 points against the Rainbow Warriors.

    Joshua Ward celebrated his birthday with team-bests of 16 points and eight assists for Fullerton (15-15, 10-8), which lost to Hawaii by 10 earlier this season. Landon Seaman added 14 points, five rebounds and two steals, and Jaden Henderson added 14 points. Bailey Nunn added 11 points, Christian Williams scored 10 (with three steals) and KJ Garris scored nine, while Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro added seven points and five rebounds.

    Bullock finished with 27 points – his most as a Warrior – while shooting 10 for 15 from the floor, including 5 for 8 from 3-point range. He also added eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

    Isaac Johnson also came up big for Hawaii with 22 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Johnson, who shot 3 for 8 from 3-point range and 9 for 10 from the free-throw line, scored seven straight points during the 14-0 run, including a 3-pointer that got the Warriors within one of the Titans and a mid-range jumper that gave them an 80-79 lead with less than a minute remaining.

    Resilient Fullerton tried to overcome Hawaii’s sprint to the finish line. After the run, the Titans trailed 84-79 with less than 30 seconds left, but Garris converted a three-point play with 21 seconds left, then Fullerton forced a turnover to get the ball back with 16 seconds left. Garris missed a 3-point attempt, but Fullerton grabbed and offensive rebound and got the ball back to Garris, who made a corner 3-pointer for an 85-84 lead with nine seconds left.

    Without a timeout, Hawaii scrambled to get the ball up the court, but a driving Hunter Erickson kicked the ball out to the top of the arc for Bullock who calmly hit his fifth 3-pointer of the night to give the visitors a dramatic win. The game featured 15 lead changes – 11 during the second half, including three in the final minute – and neither team ever led by double digits.

    Hawaii finished 14 for 39 from behind the arc, with the 14 being a season-best.

    The Warriors shot 53% from the field in the second half. The Titans were a sizzling 58% after the break, but Hawaii held them scoreless for more than three minutes late in the game to help steal the win.

    The Titans shot just 34% in the first half but went on a 13-0 run to grab a 33-24 lead before the Warriors got within 35-32 at the break. Hawaii grabbed the lead less the five minutes into the second half, and thus began the series of lead changes. Fullerton had a 79-70 advantage before Hawaii made its late run.

    UP NEXT

    Fullerton hosts UC San Diego in its final home game of the season on Thursday at 7 p.m.

    BIG WEST STANDINGS

    Through Saturday, Feb. 28

    Team – Overall, Big West

    Hawaii – 21-7, 13-5

    UC Irvine – 20-10, 13-5

    UC San Diego – 21-9, 11-7

    Cal State Northridge – 18-12, 11-7

    UC Santa Barbara – 18-12, 11-8

    UC Davis – 17-12, 10-8

    Cal State Fullerton – 15-15, 10-8

    Cal Poly (SLO) – 13-17, 9-9

    Long Beach State – 9-21, 5-13

    UC Riverside – 10-21, 5-14

    Cal State Bakersfield – 8-22, 2-16

    ​ Orange County Register 

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