Titans (1-3) Play Host to Utah Tonight

The Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball team, off to its worst start (1-3) since the 1984-85 season, will play Utah tonight in a nonconference game at 7:35 in Titan Gym.

The Titans’ problems seem to come from inside--that’s inside the key. Fullerton’s starting front line for tonight’s game--Van Anderson, Bobby Adair and Vincent Blow--is averaging a combined 15 points a game.

As a group, the Titans’ front line is scoring fewer points per game than Utah forwards Watkins Singletary (18 points) and Mitch Smith (16.2).

Contributing to Fullerton’s problems inside has been the absence of small forward Henry Turner, who averaged 15.2 points a game last season. Turner, a 6-foot 7-inch senior, strained ligaments in his right foot in Fullerton’s second game of the season, an 81-77 loss to Weber State. Anderson has taken his place in the starting lineup and averaged 5.5 points.

Blow, a 6-8 senior, has been battling illness. He will start tonight after he missed Fullerton’s 80-57 loss to New Orleans last Saturday because of the flu.

Carrying the major portion of the offensive load has been 6-4 guard Richard Morton, who is averaging 28 points a game, nearly 16 points above his career average (12.7).

Fullerton Coach George McQuarn is 1-3 lifetime against Utah.

Utah (5-1), coming off victories over Providence (86-62) and Princeton (59-55), has a decent guard of its own in Gale Gondrezick. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because he is the fourth Gondrezick brother to play major college basketball. Glen played at Nevada Las Vegas, George played at Colorado State and Grant played at Pepperdine.

Gondrezick, a 6-4 off-guard, is averaging 12.7 points per game.

Singletary, a 6-8, 220-pound transfer from Butler Community College in Kansas, is Utah’s leading rebounder, averaging 9.8 per game.

Preceding the game, the Fullerton women’s team (4-3) will meet Weber State (2-4) at 5 p.m. in Titan Gym.