CSUF and UCI seem to be going in opposite directions as the Big West conference foes will face each other for the first time this season.
UC Irvine Anteaters (11-7, 2-0 in the Big West Conference) have won four straight including conference wins over Long Beach State and UC Riverside while the Cal State Fullerton Titans (6-9, 1-0) are struggling despite a conference-opening win against UC Riverside.
Fullerton will now see its first true test of a top team in its conference as a measuring tool of just how good the team is in the Big West. UCI is leading the conference with a 2-0 record, and a 11-7 season record, their best start over an 18-game span since the 2002-03 season.
The keys to the matchup on Thursday for Irvine is to look for the same success they had against Riverside, and not Long Beach. The team was shooting one of its worst games this season against the 49ers, making shooting 17-50 from inside the arc (34%).
The team turned it around against Riverside by making 26 of 54 baskets from field goal range.
The tandem of Will Davis, Luke Nelson, and Chris McNealy will also be key for the Anteaters. Davis was held out in the contest against Riverside, but will be ready for Cal State Fullerton come Thursday. He had started all 17 games prior to facing Riverside.
Each of these three players are averaging over 11 points a game, and will provide a tough matchup for Fullerton if they are on their games.
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Fullerton’s key to success is to keep UCI close at half. In six of their 9 losses, Fullerton has trailed by more than 10 points in the first half. In their other 3 losses, Fullerton was trailing by 5 points or less in two of them.
They also must hope that Michael Williams is on his game, as he is averaging 15 points a game for the Titans. Alex Harris is the only other player over 10 points a game. This duo will need to find a way to stay close to UCI’s trio of Davis, McNealy and Nelson.
Tipoff is set for 7pm at the Bren (UCI) Thursday night.
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