HENDERSON, Nev. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive second-half surge, the Hawaii Warriors pulled away from the Cal State Fullerton Titans for a 78-63 victory in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Friday night at Dollar Loan Center.

The Warriors, improving to 23-8 overall, used a balanced offensive attack and a stifling defensive effort after halftime to overcome a sluggish start and secure the win in front of a crowd of 2,060. The Titans, who had won three straight coming in, fell to 18-16.

For much of the first half, Cal State Fullerton managed to hang tough. Despite Hawaii building an early 21-10 lead behind the interior presence of Isaac Johnson and the playmaking of Hunter Erickson, the Titans chipped away. A three-pointer from Christian Williams with 7:12 left in the half cut the deficit to 17-20, and the Titans trailed by just eight points, 29-21, at the intermission.

The most important part of the game unfolded decisively in the opening minutes of the second half. Hawaii emerged from the locker room with renewed intensity, immediately extending its lead. A driving layup by Erickson and a three-pointer from Bryce Cofield for Fullerton kept the margin in single digits, but the Warriors then unleashed a game-breaking run.

Fueled by transition opportunities and forced turnovers, Hawaii went on a 14-4 spurt over a four-minute span. The sequence featured a driving dunk by Dre Bullock, a layup from Harry Rouhliadeff, and capped by another Bullock dunk off a steal, pushing the Hawaii lead to 51-35 with 11:36 remaining. The Titans never recovered from that burst, as the Warriors’ lead ballooned to as many as 20 points.

Cal State Fullerton’s offense, which mustered only 21 points in the first half, found slightly more rhythm after halftime but could not string together enough stops to mount a serious comeback. Christian Williams led all scorers with 21 points for the Titans, while Bailey Nunn added 11. Their efforts were consistently answered by the Warriors’ multifaceted scoring.

Hawaii was led by Isaac Johnson, the 7-foot center from American Fork, Utah, who dominated inside for 19 points, three assists and a block in just 21 minutes of action. His efficiency set the tone. Forward Harry Rouhliadeff of Brisbane, Australia, provided a crucial double-double with 16 points and relentless work on the glass, while guard Hunter Erickson of Provo, Utah, filled the stat sheet with 10 points, five assists and two blocks.

The Warriors’ backcourt duo of Dre Bullock and Isaiah Kerr also made significant contributions. Bullock finished with 11 points and three assists, and Kerr provided a spark off the bench with eight points and two assists, part of a Hawaii bench that outscored Fullerton’s reserves.

Defensively, Hawaii disrupted the Titans’ flow throughout, recording eight steals and seven blocks. The Warriors converted 15 Cal State Fullerton turnovers into 19 points, highlighting the transition game that fueled their second-half separation.

The victory continued a successful season for Hawaii, which entered as a 3.5-point favorite and surpassed the projected point total in a game where their defensive pressure ultimately proved too much for the Titans. Cal State Fullerton, which had edged Hawaii 85-87 in a thrilling contest just two weeks prior on its home floor, could not replicate that performance, seeing its three-game win streak snapped.

The teams split their regular-season series, with each winning on their opponent’s home court during conference play. Hawaii now looks ahead to its regular-season finale, while Cal State Fullerton will turn its focus to the upcoming Big West tournament.