Fullerton, Without Turner, Faces Winless Portland

Cal State Fullerton’s basketball team, winless in its first two games, will be without second-leading scorer Henry Turner when it meets Portland, another winless team, tonight at 7:35 in Titan Gym.

Turner sustained torn ligaments in his right foot in a loss to Weber State Friday and is out for at least two weeks.

Without Turner, the Titans will start only one player with considerable starting experience--Richard Morton, who was Fullerton’s leading scorer last season and has carried the bulk of the scoring load this season.

Morton averages 24.5 points a game but is shooting only 38% from the field.

Fullerton needs more offense from John Sykes, Oval Miller, Bobby Adair and Vincent Blow, who have shared the center and power forward positions. Only Miller has scored in double figures this season, and all four have had foul trouble.

Portland has been a frustrating opponent for Fullerton teams coached by George McQuarn. Portland is 5-2 against the Titans, and 4-1 against McQuarn-coached teams.

In Fullerton’s first game under McQuarn in 1980, Portland defeated the Titans, 100-65, the only time a team has scored 100 points against the Titans in McQuarn’s tenure.

Two of the Portland victories have been by one point, and Fullerton’s victory also was by one point. Two years ago, weather forced a Fullerton game at Portland to be postponed by a day. When the game was played, Fullerton’s Kevin Henderson broke his foot early in the game, and the Titans lost by 14 points.

Portland (0-3) has been led by forward Robert Phillips, who averages 16 points.

The game will be broadcast on KMNY (1600).