SAN FRANCISCO — After San Francisco guard Khalil Shabazz slid on his back, all the way into the padded base of the basket, he quickly sprang up and started sprinting to get back on defense, too quick for a helping hand.
Shabazz had picked off a pass by Cal State Fullerton guard Tory San Antonio, and turned his third steal in the span of a minute into a coast-to-coast sprawling lay-up, giving the Dons a 20-point first-half lead.
The Dons' 91-69 win over the Titans looked to be an offensive showcase — the seventh time in 11 games San Francisco has scored more than 80 points — but as has often been the case in head coach Todd Golden's first season, the gaudy offensive numbers have their roots in defense.