Henderson, Boagni Provide the Offense as Titans Defeat Santa Barbara, 80-72

When the word offense is mentioned around Cal State Fullerton’s basketball team, the reply is generally automatic: Tony Neal and Kevin Henderson.

What would befall the unfortunate Titans (4-3, 8-8) if Neal and Henderson were to suddenly vanish, statistically speaking?

It was not the sort of idle experiment Titan Coach George McQuarn was likely to stage in the name of team entertainment.

But circumstances--including a sub-par first half for Neal and three early fouls for Henderson--arranged the test Thursday against UC Santa Barbara (3-4, 7-9) in a Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. game at Fullerton.

The result? An 80-72 Fullerton victory that broke all the rules of how the struggling Titans are supposed to play.

Emerging as the offensive heavyweights were a couple guys who combined for an unassuming total of five points in the Titan loss to the University of Nevada Las Vegas Monday.

Gary Davis and Kerry Boagni, not the type of names to send Gaucho Coach Jerry Pimm scurrying for special defensive schemes, took it upon themselves to prevent the Titan offense from turning into a vacuum.

They scored 20 points each and were particularly in evidence during the first half, when Davis scored 14 and Boagni had 10.

Poor Neal, he earned the full defensive attention of a trio of Gauchos everywhere he went. Consequently, his 18-point scoring average took a beating. He had only four points by halftime, to go with two rebounds. He finished with 11 points.

“When they were diving down on me, I was kicking it out to Gary and Kerry, and they were shooting about 70% tonight (actually a combined 17 of 28 for 61%),” Neal said.

Pimm: “I thought we did a great job on Neal in the first half, but we weren’t supposed to give Davis and Boagni quite that much room.”

The Titans held a 38-37 lead at the half. Then Henderson was relieved of his exile on the bench and responded with 13 second-half points for a total of 18.

“I was making up for lost time in the second half,” Henderson said. “I can’t deal with that sitting down. When I came out, (former Titan All-America Leon) Wood told me they were cheap fouls and to keep my head up.”

In fact, it was Leon Wood Night in Fullerton, since the Titans’ most distinguished courtside alumnus happened to be in town with his new team, the Philadelphia 76ers, who play the Lakers and Clippers this weekend.

As if the Gauchos didn’t have enough troubles playing on the road without Leon Wood Night to contend with. They are 2-5 away from home this season, after going 2-10 last season.

Khris Fortson was the only Gaucho who played as if he was oblivious to the foreign court. He led the Santa Barbara scoring with 21 points.

Some other factors varied from the Titans’ usual pattern Thursday. Defense is generally the Titan forte, but they put little emphasis on it in the first half. Meanwhile, the Gauchos shot 61%.

Fullerton bore down harder in the second half, and, by no coincidence, the Gauchos’ shooting efficiency plummeted to 38%.

Nevada Las Vegas 92, New Mexico State 70--Richie Adams scored 22 points, and the Rebels (14-2, 7-0) increased their winning streak to 13 by beating the Aggies (6-10, 3-4) at Las Cruces, N.M.