Fullerton Gets Past the Aggies

Cal State Fullerton would never ask for much more than for the ball to be in Richard Morton’s hands in the final seconds of a close game.

But what the Titans got Thursday against New Mexico State was even better. With the score tied, 59-59, and one second remaining, the ball was in Morton’s hands, and there was no defense.

Good night, Aggies.

Morton, an 84% free-throw shooter, was fouled on a shot with one second remaining and made both free throws to give the Titans a 61-59 victory over New Mexico State in front of 1,303 in Titan Gym.

“I felt good, then,” Morton said. “I’ve been shooting my free throws consistently all year.”

New Mexico State called a timeout to let Morton consider the importance of the shots, but that had no effect on him.

For Fullerton, it was a rare close-game victory. The Titans are 2-9 in games decided by six or fewer points.

The Aggies attempted a desperate play, but Henry Turner intercepted a fullcourt pass.

New Mexico State (16-14, 8-9) managed to put Fullerton in the most ideal situation possible.

The Aggies had tied the score, 59-59, on a three-point play by Willie Joseph with 1:30 remaining. On its next possession, Fullerton ran the shot clock down, and Morton missed a forced shot as the clock ran out. But in a scramble for the rebound, New Mexico State knocked the ball out of bounds, giving the Titans another chance with 42 seconds remaining.

Think Fullerton felt fortunate?

“Absolutely,” said George McQuarn, Fullerton coach.

Fullerton again ran time off the clock, and Morton drove with time running out. He was fouled on the shot by Curtis Terrell, despite the fact that a foul before the shot would have only given the Titans the ball out of bounds, because Fullerton was not yet in the bonus.

Morton was able to get to attempt a shot in part because Vincent Blow had set a screen on the man guarding Morton, forcing Terrell to pick up Morton.

“We just came up short,” said Neil McCarthy, New Mexico State coach. “But it’s been that way all season. I guess it’s been that way for the Titans too.”

Morton finished with 20 points for the Titans, as did Henry Turner. Blow added 11.

“We beat a team that plays outstanding defense,” said George McQuarn, Fullerton coach. “You look at how difficult it is for us to score ordinarily and this just magnifies it. I’m real happy with this win.”

Terrell and Johnny Roberson each scored 11 for New Mexico State (16-14, 8-9).

New Mexico State stymied Fullerton’s offense with an aggressive, trapping zone during much of the game, and Fullerton’s defense slowed the Aggies as well.

Still this game was nothing like the last meeting between these teams--a 41-37 New Mexico State victory in which both teams played deliberately and shot poorly.

Fullerton led by as many as seven in the first half, but held only a 30-29 halftime lead. The Titans never led by more than four in the second half.

The victory was Fullerton’s fourth in its past five games, and its 10th of the season against 16 losses. The Titans are 6-11 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn.

The Titans had hoped to win their final six games, McQuarn said, but the loss to Fresno State last week stymied that attempt. If Fullerton were to beat Cal State Long Beach in its final game Saturday, it will have won five of its final six.

“Any kind of momentum we can get to prepare ourselves for the (PCAA) tournament is good,” McQuarn said.