Cal State Fullerton Down to 10 Players After Senior Walk-On Quits Team

Benson Williams, a 6-foot 7-inch senior walk-on player, has quit the Cal State Fullerton basketball team, apparently because he was not put on scholarship. His loss leaves the squad with 10 players.

Williams, who averaged 2.7 points in 9 games last season, left the team last week after Coach John Sneed denied his request for a scholarship.

Sneed said Tuesday he would not allow Williams to return. The coach said he had planned to put Williams on financial aid next semester, but he objected to Williams’ demand.

Fullerton will open its season Thursday night against Utah at Salt Lake City.

Williams is the third player to quit the team and the fourth player to leave the program since practice began Oct. 15.

Forward William Allen quit before George McQuarn’s resignation as coach Nov. 3. Forward Michael Brown, who had been ill with mononucleosis, quit shortly after Sneed replaced McQuarn. Terry Nelson, a freshman who was ineligible this season under Proposition 48, the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. academic legislation, recently decided to leave Fullerton at the end of the semester.