Flu and Santa Barbara Down Fullerton, 55-47

Coaches and players alike were pale and weakened by flu when Cal State Fullerton took the floor for a Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. game against UC Santa Barbara Saturday night at Titan Gym.

They left feeling much worse.

Santa Barbara took advantage of some miserable Fullerton shooting in the second half to score a 55-47 come-from-behind victory. It was the Gauchos’ first win in Titan Gym since 1980-81, and first under Coach Jerry Pimm. It was Fullerton’s third loss in its last four outings, and it was enough to make Titan Coach George McQuarn more sick than he already was.

“One of the worst ballgames I’ve ever been involved with,” McQuarn said.

Brian Shaw had 14 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds and Brian Vaughns had 13 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Gauchos to what would have been considered a major upset a week ago. But that was before Fullerton’s return to reality in last Monday’s 58-55 loss to the University of the Pacific. And before Titan fever struck.

The flu had left McQuarn without three of his players. Guard Alexander Hamilton was on the bench in street clothes. Forward Vincent Blow and center Oval Miller suited up but could not play.

Those Titans who could play did not play well. Fullerton shot 58% from the field in the first half in taking a 26-22 lead. In the second half, they shot 22% and were easily overtaken.

The win gives Santa Barbara a 6-5 overall record and 1-1 mark in the PCAA. Fullerton is 8-4 and 1-2.

McQuarn said the Titans have a lot of work to do in practice, but the flu bug has prevented them from practicing as hard or often as he would like.

“The only thing that’s gonna cure us is rest,” he said, “and we lose a lot by resting. So what do you do? It’s a Catch-22.”