Fullerton Wins PCAA Tournament Spot

To hear Cal State Fullerton Coach George McQuarn tell it, his team’s 63-59 Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. win over New Mexico State Thursday night at Titan Gym was a victory of both body and spirit: Alexander Hamilton’s body and Kenny Travis’ spirit.

Fullerton clinched a spot in the PCAA tournament by winning only its second game in the last five tries and improving its record to 8-9 in conference play, 15-11 overall. New Mexico State is 9-9 and 15-14.

Travis, New Mexico State’s gifted senior guard, has the ability to make a basketball game a showcase for his talents. Entering this game, he was the Aggies’ leading scorer and rebounder.

He finished with 19 points, but didn’t dominate this game the way he has several others in his two seasons at New Mexico State. He had only 11 points until getting 8 more in the final two minutes.

That, McQuarn said, was because of the way Hamilton, the Titans’ senior point guard, shadowed him.

“I think Kenny Travis may be the best off guard in the conference,” McQuarn said. “But (Hamilton) broke his spirit. He took his concentration away.”

Hamilton’s efforts, Fullerton’s 38-27 advantage in rebounding, and five Richard Morton free throws in the final 31 seconds added up to a Fullerton win.