Fullerton Makes Utah State Work Overtime but Falls, 82-76

For the third time in the last three games, injured point guard Kevin Henderson sat on the bench and watched his Cal State Fullerton teammates go into overtime.

For the second time, the Titans came up short.

Utah State made six of six overtime free throws Thursday night and held off the surprising Titans, 82-76. Fullerton dropped to 8-7 overall and 1-2 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. The Aggies are 5-7 and 1-2.

Fullerton was supposed to be devastated by the loss of its top scorer and team leader, but the Titans showed the 7,117 fans in The Spectrum that they’re still competitive, even on the road in one of the PCAA’s toughest places to play. The Aggies have won 79% of their home games in the facility.

The Titans managed to build a seven-point lead, 54-47, midway through the second half but didn’t have the poise or the firepower to pull out a win. The game was tied, 68-68, at the end of regulation, but Aggie forward Bill Floyd, who made 6 of 8 shots and finished with 13 points, hit two quick jumpers, and Fullerton never recovered.

“All I can say is that I would really be pleased if our team could play like that if we lost Greg Grant,” Aggie Coach Rod Tueller said. “They’re really playing well . . . with confidence and gusto.”

Grant, of course, is not missing from the Utah State lineup. In fact, he didn’t miss a second of Thursday night’s game and scored 33 points--including 16 of the Aggies’ last 20 in regulation--and has now scored 98 in the last three games. He made 10 of 15 shots and all 13 free throws.

Sophomore off-guard Richard Morton continued to pick up the offensive slack for Fullerton with 24 points, but the Titans seemed to be miss Henderson’s playmaking and leadership more than his average of 21 points a game.