GAME NOTES: Two California-based teams will square off in their season openers as the Cal State-Fullerton Titans get set to take on the Santa Clara Broncos in a non-conference clash at Leavey Center on Friday.

The Titans experienced some growing pains last year under first-year coach Dedrique Taylor, finishing the campaign with an 11-20 overall record and a 6-10 mark in the Big West Conference. Things started strong for CS-Fullerton this season with an 84-53 exhibition win over Caltech.

Santa Clara was yet again disappointing in the 2013-14 season, as the Broncos finished the campaign with a 14-19 overall mark and a 6-12 ledger in the West Coast Conference. But like Fullerton, Santa Clara also started the 2014-15 season off with an exhibition win over Cal State East Bay, 82-72.

The two teams have met just twice on the floor in their series history, with each team notching a victory. These two squads clashed last year, which saw the Titans come away victorious.

Cal State Fullerton was bounced from the Big West Tournament in the first round in a loss to Long Beach State, which was no real surprise. The team is a bit depleted after the loss of Michael Williams (17.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg) in the offseason, but still retains some talented players. Alex Harris (15.6 ppg) is back in the lineup after proving to be a decent scoring option as he enters this season as the likely go-to scorer. Steve McClellan (6.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Josh Gentry (7.5 ppg) are also back in the mix as the Titans look to improve on a sub-par 2013-14 season.

The Titans absolutely demolished Caltech on Nov. 8 in the team's exhibition contest. Harris was dominant, hitting 5-of-11 shooting from the floor with 20 points and six assists. Moses Morgan and McClellan each netted 12 points, while Joe Boyd and Kennedy Esume added 10 apiece. Sheldon Blackwell topped the team with eight rebounds, while McClellan added another five boards. A trio of junior college transfers - Esume, Temjae Singleton and Malcolm Henderson - will give the Titans some much-needed size in the frontcourt.

Santa Clara hasn't been present in an NCAA Tournament since the 1996 season, so things need to pick up fast for the Broncos and coach Kerry Keating. Sophomore guard Jared Brownridge had a record-setting season as a freshman, in which he averaged 17.2 ppg. He will have to maintain those numbers this year if the team wants any chance of getting by as a successful program with a go- to scorer. Brandon Clark will also be a key cog in the offense after averaging 16.9 ppg as a junior. The Broncos will need some more production out of the low post, and are hoping Yannick Atanga (3.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg) will be a big help.

Against East Bay in the team's exhibition win, Santa Clara dominated the glass with 38 rebounds in the 10-point win. Brownridge was excellent with 23 points and five rebounds, while Clark added 15 points. Matt Hubbard came off the bench to net 11, and Atanga dropped in 10 points with nine boards, barely missing the double-double. Going with a three-guard scheme, Santa Clara gave Stephen Edwards the start, and the freshman netted six points with two rebounds in 17 minutes on the floor.

Brownridge and Clark were superb against inferior competition, as was Harris for Fullerton. Although the Titans must hit the road for their first contest of the year, the Big West program should match up well with the perennial down- and-out Broncos. If Brownridge and Harris cancel each other out, Fullerton will be the team with the most depth that can get the job done.