Pepperdine at Fullerton Tonight

It is far too early for Pepperdine to panic. It’s also too soon for Cal State Fullerton to sit back and enjoy a holiday season that, so far, has been mostly merry.

Still, the Waves and Titans appear to be heading in opposite directions entering their nonconference game tonight at 7:30 in Titan Gym.

Fullerton is fresh from a fun-filled weekend in Provo, Utah, during which the Titans upset both Texas Christian and Brigham Young to win the championship of the BYU tournament. The Titans’ 59-56 victory over BYU in last Saturday’s title game was particularly impressive because it was scored in the Marriott Center, in front of more than 18,000 screaming Cougar fans.

The Waves, meanwhile, are rolling right along, but not the way Coach Jim Harrick had hoped. Pepperdine has lost four straight, its longest losing streak since December of 1980, and had its 30-game, home-court winning streak snapped by Cal State Long Beach last Thursday. The Waves’ latest frustration was a 95-88 loss at Nevada Reno Monday night.

Tonight’s game is pivotal in Pepperdine’s recovery process, but just as important to the Titans, who may have set some rather high standards with the wins at BYU. The Titans have put themselves in a position of becoming one of West Coast basketball’s biggest surprises.

Junior forward Henry Turner, the most valuable player of the BYU tournament, had a total of 32 points and 9 rebounds in the two games. Derek Jones, a transfer from Long Beach City College, led the Titans in the championship game with 16 points and 9 rebounds, the best performance of his brief Fullerton career.

Said Fullerton Coach George McQuarn: “Derek has to score in order for us to be successful.”