Junior Tony Champion led the team in scoring for the fourth time this season.

The win improved the Titans to 2-6 overall and ended the team’s four-game losing streak. The Hornets dropped to 4-5 overall and now face the challenge of playing their next seven games on the road.

Fullerton was in control of the game for nearly the entire contest. Raashad Hooks gave Sacramento State a 3-0 lead with a trey 14 seconds into the game. Bolton, however, put the Titans up 5-3 with a tip-in at the 18:10 mark of the first half. Fullerton extended its lead to 10 points, 25-15, on two free throws by Bolton midway through the period.

Sacramento State closed the gap with a 9-0 run to make the score, 28-27, following a pair of free throws from Tony Champion. The Titans bounced right back, however, with a three-pointer from Bolton, a layup by Holmes, another three from Bolton and a second jumper by Holmes to a 38-27 advantage into halftime.

Cal State Fullerton controlled the second half, never allowing Sacramento State to get within 10 points until Djibril Diop recorded his first field goal of the season with five seconds remaining.

Fullerton did most of its damage of the glass where it outrebounded the Hornets, 41-22. The Titans also grabbed 14 offensive rebounds compared to eight by Sacramento State. Aggressive play also placed CSF at the free-throw line 26 times. Fifteen of the team’s free throw attempts came in the first period where they connected on 11. In the same period, the Hornets were just 3-of-5.

The Titans played the majority of the game with just seven players. Numerous injuries had the team handcuffed entering the game. The list of the wounded included NBA prospect Pape Sow and starting guard Brandon Campbell. The list grew early in the first period when Babacar Camara went down with a lower leg injury which forced him to the hospital for X-rays.

As a team, Cal State Fullerton was 23-for-42 from the field (54.8) while holding the Hornets to 20-of-49 (40.8).

Sacramento State was paced by Champion who scored 13 points. The junior was 5-for-11 from the floor and made 3-of-5 free throws. He also pulled down five rebounds. Senior Derek Lambeth added 11 points and freshman DaShawn Freeman contributed 10. Freeman also haded out a team-high six assists and swiped a career-best six steals. Jimmy White led the team with eight rebounds.

Holmes (10-of-18) and Bolton (7-of-10) were the only two players to crack double-digits for the Titans. Point guard Zakee Smith added a game-high nine assists.

Following the Christmas holiday, the Hornets will travel to Moscow, Idaho, to challenge Idaho. Game time against the Vandals is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The team’s next home game is not until Jan. 23 against Idaho State.