Cal State-Fullerton rallies to shock UC Riverside 79-73

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) Tre Coggins scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half and Cal State-Fullerton rallied from 20 down in the second half on Thursday night to open Big West Conference play with a 79-73 win over UC Riverside.

The Titans (8-6), who won just one conference game last season, fell behind 10-0 and trailed 39-27 at the half. The Highlanders (9-7) opened the second half with a 10-2 run, making it 49-29.

Fullerton had runs of 9-0, 8-0, both times to cut the deficit to 11, and then had a 13-0 run to take a 72-67 lead with 1:01 to play. Leslie Lionheart scored seven straight before a Coggins 3 made it 70-67.

Down five, the Highlanders had a critical turnover and Lionheart's two free throws made it a three-possession game with 36 seconds left, 76-69.

Fullerton was 20 of 28 from the line in the second half.

Jaylen Bland had 21 for Riverside.