Titans put up a solid fight @supost.com

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Date: Thu, Dec 07, 2006, 08:00 AM

Cal State Fullerton had all the makings of a formidable opponent. The Titans (5-2) came into Tuesday?s game averaging nearly 90 points per game and featuring a possible NBA prospect in point guard Bobby Brown. They were supposed to bring the Bruins out of the doldrums that the No. 1 UCLA basketball team has experienced through its stretch of three straight games against Big West teams. Instead, the Bruins? 78-54 victory on Tuesday featured many of the same characteristics as the previous two uninspiring victories. ?This was not a 24-point game,? UCLA coach Ben Howland said. ?We were fortunate it ended up that score, but it sure didn?t feel like it. Fullerton is a very talented team.? The Bruins (7-0) committed 21 turnovers in the game, as Fullerton?s fast pace caught them off guard in the first half. Point guard Darren Collison committed five turnovers and the Bruins looked lackadaisical as the Titans built a 14-4 lead to start the game. ?We knew they were going to come out hard against us, especially being a local team,? Collison said. ?We just had to take a step back and regroup.? Following the sloppy first five minutes, the Bruins settled down and relied on the players who have been carrying them all season ? Arron Afflalo and Josh Shipp. Afflalo led the Bruins in scoring with 20 points, while Shipp contributed 16 on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. The two players? exceptional outside shooting kept the Bruins afloat while their defense kept the Titans in check. ?Our team is very mentally tough,? Afflalo said. ?I think that is what separates us from most teams. When we get down, we don?t panic, because we keep up the intensity throughout.? On Tuesday, Afflalo?s intensity was felt on the defensive as well as the offensive end. Afflalo was assigned to guard Brown midway through the first half, successfully limiting his outside shooting after Brown got off to a quick start in the first half. Brown, who came in as the Titans? leading scorer, finished with 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting, but also had seven turnovers. ?It was a mixture of me and Darren,? Afflalo said of the successful defense on Brown. ?We?re a pretty good defensive backcourt as a whole. Whenever we throw both of us on a guard, it?s going to be a long night for them.? Overall, the Bruins caused a season-high 28 turnovers for the Titans, and Collison was able to garner a team-high six steals. The Bruins also outrebounded the Titans, and junior forward Lorenzo Mata finished with a career-high 16 rebounds. The Bruins will need a similar type of performance this Saturday against No. 6 Texas A&M in the John Wooden Classic. ?We have to come out with our game every time,? Collison said. ?If we don?t play our best, any team can beat us.? The Bruins almost learned that lesson the hard way against the Titans on Tuesday. WEAR TWINS: Sophomore recruits David and Travis Wear, forwards at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, were in attendance for Tuesday?s game. The Bruin Den chanted the twins? names at one point during the game and gave them a standing ovation. The brothers figure to be two of the top recruits for the Class of 2009. DRIBBLERS: Tuesday?s attendance of 7,945 was the lowest of the season for the Bruins, with the top of the student section mostly empty. ... Bruin alumnus and current Lakers point guard Jordan Farmar was in attendance at the game. ... Fullerton brought its dance team to the game, and the dancers were heavily booed by the UCLA student section. <a href='; target='_blank'>;