FULLERTON, Calif. - The Idaho Vandals ran into an offensive machine Thursday night they just could not stop.

Cal State Fullerton maintained a torrid pace for nearly every second of the 40 minutes in racing past the Vandals, 84-74, in a Big West Conference game that went a long way in solidifying the Titans' fourth place in the standings, while pushing the Vandals deeper into fifth and likely out of the first-round bye at the post-season tournament.

"I wasn't disappointed in our effort," said UI coach Leonard Perry, whose team is 8-17 overall and 6-8 in the conference. Fullerton is 14-8 overall and 8-5 in league.

 "I knew this was an explosive team. I knew we were going to have to come in and really, really defend like madmen. They're very, very difficult to guard."

That was the story from the opening tip. Early on, though, the Vandals were able to keep pace, despite not being able to match the Titans' shooting percentage or hold their own on the boards - something they usually do.

With Tanoris Shepard shouldering the scoring load, the Vandals led 10-6 early. Then, as they have been wont to do, they slid through a six-minute stretch of little or no scoring that allowed Cal State Fullerton to pull ahead by nine midway through the first half.

Idaho rallied and tied the game with about three minutes to go in the half before another series of endline-to-endline sprints gave the Titans a 44-35 halftime lead.

The second half mirrored the first - Fullerton pulled out to a double-digit lead; the Vandals battled back, only to see the Titans hit high gear again and moved out of reach.

"We never could get completely over the hump," Perry said. "It just came down to getting stop. Offensively we scored the ball. Scoring wasn't the problem. It was stopping this team. They don't miss when they get guys in one-on-one situations."

As has been their style all season, four Titans scored in double figures with Ralphy Holmes leading the way with 21. Jamaal Brown had 20, Bobby Brown had 19 and Yaphett King added 11.

The Vandals responded with 24 from Shepard, 18 from Anton Lyons and 16 from Dandrick Jones. But it wasn't nearly enough to keep pace with the Titans and their 54.8 percent shooting and 42-27 edge on the boards.

"They're familiar with the rims," Perry said. "That's for sure."

The Vandals are at UC Riverside Saturday afternoon at 2.