CS Fullerton Is 4-1 After Holding Off Portland

Cal State Fullerton has taken to its role of underdog this season, trying to surprise those who have predicted the Titans would struggle. If their 4-1 record doesn’t already qualify them as surprising, the swings in their games make them unpredictable, at least.

Against winless Portland Saturday night, Fullerton trailed by 2 points at halftime, then built an 18-point lead, only to let it dwindle to 2 with 1:33 left.

The Titans made only 4 of 8 free throws down the stretch but didn’t allow Portland a basket in that time, holding on for a 71-65 victory before a crowd of 1,012 at the Chiles Center.

“It was another learning experience,” said John Sneed, the first-year coach of a team that has no returning starters. “Mainly, I’m happy to win another, and to win another on the road.”

After winning only one game on the road last season--a victory over University of the Pacific in February--Fullerton is 3 for 3 on the road this season.

As for unpredictability, Fullerton rallied from double-digit deficits in its first 3 games, winning twice. Then, against Sonoma State, a Division II team, Fullerton allowed the Cossacks to stay as close as 8 points with 6 minutes left.

Who can figure?

“We were trying to do the right things,” Sneed said. “We just had a little trouble doing it.”

For the fifth time in as many games, junior forward Cedric Ceballos led they way, scoring 26 points and getting 9 rebounds.

Mark Hill, a junior guard, added 18 points, making 7 of 9 shots, including 3 of 3 three-pointers. Freshman point guard Wayne Williams had 14 points, and senior forward Derek Jones added 10.

Portland held a 35-33 halftime lead, largely behind a fast-breaking offense that Fullerton hadn’t expected.

“They hurt us with the transition,” Sneed said. “That surprised us a little bit.”

The Pilots scored 18 points off layups in the first half and outscored Fullerton in the lane, 22-10, for the game.

“We made some adjustments,” Sneed said.

Fullerton built its 62-44 lead with a 19-1 run during which Hill had 10 points. Portland, its fast break stymied, was held without a field goal for 5:26.

But the Pilots (0-7) rallied with a 12-2 run, finally cutting the lead to 2 on Steve Hutchinson’s jumper from the foul line.

But the Titans stopped the Pilots there, and held on.