Riverside—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team built a 20-point lead early in the second half Thursday evening, but Cal State Fullerton put together a 32-8 run to take its first lead of the game, winning the Big West opener for both clubs, 79-73.

The Highlanders (9-8, 0-1) scored the first ten points of the game, and a Taylor Johns three-pointer with 2:16 gone in the second pushed their advantage to 20, 49-29. It was still a 19-point UC Riverside lead following a Jaylen Bland three with 11:49 on the clock, but that is when the Highlanders went cold.

The Titans scored 17 of the next 19 points to cut the lead to six, and recorded a 13-0 run late in the period to take their first lead of the night. Fullerton scored its final nine points of the game from the charity stripe to seal the six-point victory.

Tré Coggins scored 20 points after the break to lead the comeback, while Lionheart Leslie added 12 and Malcolm Brooks scored 10. The Titans went 20 for 28 from the free throw line in the second half, and forced nine Highlanders miscues.

Bland helped the Highlanders to a 12-point lead at the intermission scoring 12 points en route to a team-high 19. Secean Johnson chipped in with 17 on the night, while Johns scored 15 and Malik Thames added 11.

Coggins led all scorers with 25 points pacing five Titans in double figures.

The Highlanders hit the road Saturday for an 8pm tip at UC Irvine. The game is being televised nationally on ESPNU.