Cal State Fullerton Triumphs Over UC San Diego
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 10:00 PM ET · LionTree Arena
Cal State Fullerton Titans 88, UC San Diego Tritons 71, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Cal State Fullerton Titans vs UC San Diego Tritons?
Cal State Fullerton Titans beat UC San Diego Tritons 88-71 at LionTree Arena on January 8, 2026.
Who was favored in Cal State Fullerton Titans vs UC San Diego Tritons?
UC San Diego Tritons were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1050 (about 91% implied). The underdog won.
In a surprising turn of events, the Cal State Fullerton Titans defeated the UC San Diego Tritons with a final score of 88-71. This result marks a significant achievement for Fullerton, especially considering their recent struggles and their away record of 1-4 prior to this game. The Titans entered the contest with an overall record of 7-10, while the Tritons held a more favorable 12-4 record.
The Tritons had been performing well at home, boasting a record of 4-1 in their last five home games and averaging 79.7 points scored while allowing 70.8. However, they faced a formidable opponent in Fullerton, who had averaged 85.8 points scored and 85.5 points allowed in their last ten games, showcasing their offensive capabilities despite their overall record.
In their last ten games, UC San Diego had a record of 7-3, with a recent win against the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors on January 4, where they won 83-73. However, they had also suffered a loss to the Cal Poly Mustangs just days before that, which may have impacted their momentum heading into this match. The Tritons' last five games showed a record of 3-2, indicating a slight dip in form as they averaged 76.0 points scored and allowed 68.2.
On the other hand, Cal State Fullerton had a mixed record of 4-6 in their last ten games, with their most recent outing resulting in a loss against the UC Irvine Anteaters, where they fell 64-86. However, they had shown signs of life with a victory against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos just two days prior, winning 95-84. Their last five games had them at 2-3, scoring an average of 83.2 points but allowing 92.0, highlighting their defensive vulnerabilities.
Historically, the Tritons had dominated their previous meetings against the Titans, holding a 2-0 record in the last season. They had won decisively in both encounters, with scores of 100-55 and 90-51. This context made the Titans' victory even more notable, as they managed to overturn their previous struggles against UC San Diego.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but the performance of both teams could have been influenced by their health and availability of key players. The conditions in the LionTree Arena were not detailed either, but typically such environments can affect gameplay, particularly in terms of crowd support for the home team.
The market had set the odds with UC San Diego favored at -13.5 according to DraftKings, indicating expectations of a strong performance from the home side. The total for the game was set at 166.5, reflecting an anticipated high-scoring affair. The odds for the money line were -1050 for UC San Diego and +675 for Cal State Fullerton, further emphasizing the underdog status of the Titans.
As the game unfolded, Fullerton's ability to capitalize on their scoring opportunities was evident. Key plays included a driving layup from Leo Beath, and a dunk from Bryce Cofield, which helped the Titans maintain their lead in the second half. The final moments of the game saw Fullerton secure their victory with free throws, sealing the outcome decisively.
In conclusion, the Titans' victory over the Tritons not only alters the narrative of their season but also serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of college basketball. The performance of Cal State Fullerton highlights their potential to compete against stronger teams, while UC San Diego will need to regroup and address their defensive strategies moving forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UCSD -13.5 | 166.5 o -112 / u -108 | Cal State Fullerton Titans +675 · UC San Diego Tritons -1050 |
Leaders
- PointsBol Dengdit15UC San Diego Tritons
- AssistsEmanuel Prospere II3UC San Diego Tritons
- ReboundsAidan Burke7UC San Diego Tritons
- PointsChristian Williams22Cal State Fullerton Titans
- AssistsJefferson De La Cruz Monegro6Cal State Fullerton Titans
- ReboundsBryce Cofield6Cal State Fullerton Titans
Recent form
UC San Diego Tritons
Last 10: 7-3Streak W179.7 scored · 70.8 allowed per game4-1 at home
- W83-73vs Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsJan 4
- L65-67at Cal Poly MustangsJan 2
- W85-62vs Stanton ElksDec 29
- L80-82vs San Diego TorerosDec 20
- W67-57at Loyola Marymount LionsDec 17
- W93-67vs Tulane Green WaveDec 14
- W80-74at Long Beach State BeachDec 7
- L70-76at Nevada Wolf PackDec 3
- W87-73vs Towson TigersNov 26
- W87-77at Bradley BravesNov 25
Cal State Fullerton Titans
Last 10: 4-6Streak L185.8 scored · 85.5 allowed per game1-4 away
- L64-86vs UC Irvine AnteatersJan 4
- W95-84vs UC Santa Barbara GauchosJan 2
- L63-110at SMU MustangsDec 28
- L89-94at Oklahoma State CowboysDec 21
- W105-86at Denver PioneersDec 13
- W116-66vs Bethesda FlamesDec 11
- L59-69at Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsDec 7
- L91-94vs Cal Poly MustangsDec 5
- W83-69vs Pepperdine WavesNov 29
- L93-97at Northern Colorado BearsNov 23
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 23-12 | - | 15-5 |
| Hawai'i | 24-9 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UC San Diego | 23-11 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Northridge | 20-14 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 18-16 | 3 | 12-8 |
| UC Davis | 19-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 18-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Cal Poly | 14-19 | 5 | 10-10 |
| Long Beach State | 10-22 | 9 | 6-14 |
| UC Riverside | 10-22 | 10 | 5-15 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 8-24 | 13 | 2-18 |
Box score
| Stat | Cal State Fullerton Titans | UC San Diego Tritons |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 29-58 | 22-55 |
| Field goal % | 50 | 40 |
| Three-pointers | 15-29 | 9-34 |
| Three-point % | 52 | 26 |
| Free throws | 15-24 | 18-20 |
| Free throw % | 63 | 90 |
| Rebounds | 28 | 39 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 27 |
| Assists | 21 | 12 |
| Steals | 11 | 1 |
| Blocks | 2 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 17 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 25 | 6 |
| Fast-break points | 18 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 24 |
| Fouls | 18 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 20 | 10 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 52 | 45 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half52-41Aidan Burke makes layup
- 2nd Half52-43Emanuel Prospere II makes driving layup
- 2nd Half55-43Landon Seaman makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro assists)
- 2nd Half58-43Christian Williams makes 28-foot three point jumper (Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro assists)
- 2nd Half58-44Cade Pendleton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-45Cade Pendleton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-45Bailey Nunn makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro assists)
- 2nd Half61-47Bol Dengdit makes layup (Alex Chaikin assists)
- 2nd Half61-49Alex Chaikin makes driving layup
- 2nd Half64-49Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro makes 23-foot three point jumper (Christian Williams assists)
- 2nd Half65-49Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half65-51Aidan Burke makes driving layup
- 2nd Half67-51Bryce Cofield makes 1-foot dunk (Kendrick De Luna assists)
- 2nd Half67-52Hudson Mayes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-53Hudson Mayes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-54Bol Dengdit makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-55Bol Dengdit makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-57Hudson Mayes makes driving layup (Tom Beattie assists)
- 2nd Half69-57Kendrick De Luna makes 6-foot hook shot (Jaden Henderson assists)
- 2nd Half69-58Tom Beattie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-58Christian Williams makes 24-foot three point jumper (Bryce Cofield assists)
- 2nd Half75-58Joshua Ward makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half78-58Jaden Henderson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Christian Williams assists)
- 2nd Half78-60Hudson Mayes makes layup
- 2nd Half79-60Landon Seaman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-61Leo Beath makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-62Leo Beath makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-64Emanuel Prospere II makes layup
- 2nd Half80-64Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half81-64Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half82-64Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half82-67Emanuel Prospere II makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half82-69Leo Beath makes driving layup (Emanuel Prospere II assists)
- 2nd Half83-69Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half85-69Bryce Cofield makes 2-foot dunk (Kendrick De Luna assists)
- 2nd Half85-70Alex Chaikin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half85-71Alex Chaikin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half86-71Joshua Ward makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half87-71Bryce Cofield makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half88-71Bryce Cofield makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours UC San Diego Tritons, below favours Cal State Fullerton Titans.
Venue
- LionTree ArenaSan Diego, CA
- Attendance2137
- OfficialsMike Reed, Ed Crenshaw Jr., Bill Vinovich
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond