USD Lineup Faces a Test at Fullerton

After tinkering with his starting lineup all season, University of San Diego Coach Hank Egan figures he may have found one that will work. That combination will be tested when the Toreros play Cal State Fullerton in Titan Gym at 7:35 tonight.

Egan started guard Efrem Leonard for the first time against San Diego State Saturday. Leonard responded by scoring 15 points. That helped USD (3-3) win its biggest game so far this season, 76-53.

“We had a hard time motivating him at practice,” Egan said of Leonard. “But he sat for a few games and he got motivated.”

Jim Pelton, a 6-foot 9-inch forward, had 20 points and 7 rebounds in that game and was named the West Coast Athletic Conference player of the week.

Fullerton (2-4) will probably play without point guard Eugene Jackson for the second straight game. Marlon Vaughn, who scored 14 points in his first career start in the Titans’ 81-70 loss to Pepperdine Monday, is expected to replace him.

The Titans have been led by Richard Morton, who has averaged 25.7 points, and Henry Turner, who has scored more than 20 points in each of the last two games after missing two games with an ankle injury.

The Toreros defeated the teams’ only common opponent, Montana. Fullerton lost to Montana in its season opener.