Fullerton Builds Up Confidence : Titans Impress Even Themselves With Win Over Northeastern

Others may have doubted. Others did doubt. But until now, the Cal State Fullerton basketball players have insisted that they alone always had confidence, always believed.

After an 81-68 victory over Northeastern Tuesday in Titan Gym, even the Fullerton players admit they are rather impressed now.

“We’ve surprised a lot of people this season,” said Derek Jones, a senior forward. “This time, we surprised ourselves.”

Jones tied his career scoring-high with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting and pulled down 12 rebounds, a career high.

It was Jones who extended a 1-point Fullerton lead with 4 minutes left when he hit a hanging 15-foot jumper as he was knocked to the floor, then sank a free throw. That made it 71-67, and the Titans pulled away with the help of tough defense down the stretch, including a block by David Moody in the final minute.

Freshman Wayne Williams hit 4 of 5 free throws in the final minute to seal it.

The performance of the night belonged to Northeastern’s Derrick Lewis, who scored 29, hitting 6 of 7 3-point shots, even though he was checked closely by Mark Hill, who scored a season-high 19, including 4 3-pointers.

The most spectacular plays came from Fullerton’s Cedric Ceballos, who scored 23, including one 360-degree-plus dunk that set the crowd of 1,220 going.

This was a game to help solidify the growing conviction that this Fullerton team can compete in the Big West Conference, not simply play with Pacific at the bottom.

By winning its fourth game in a row, Fullerton already has accomplished something that last season’s 12-17 team managed only in the final weeks of the season.

“We’ve aroused a lot of curiosity among the Titan fans so far,” Fullerton Coach John Sneed said. “It was good to give them a chance to see what it’s about. This probably was as well and as hard as we’ve played for 40 minutes.”

Even though their 4-1 start had gotten the attention of those who figured the Titans might not win more than 10 games this season, Fullerton had been shaky in victories over the University of San Diego, Sonomoa State and Portland. With their fifth victory on Tuesday, the confidence grew.

“A few times we were playing to the level of our opponents, and we won with athletic ability,” Jones said. “This time they had even or maybe more athletic ability. We surprised ourselves.”

Leading by as many as 9 in the first half, Fullerton held only a 35-34 lead at halftime after being outscored, 9-2, in the final 3 minutes.

Although the game was close most of the way, Fullerton trailed only once, 46-45, on Steve Carney’s offensive rebound basket with 6 minutes gone in the second half.

With the score tied, 47-47, Hill hit a 3-pointer to give Fullerton the lead again, and the Titans protected it.

“That’s a team effort,” Sneed said. “I think our team followed game plan to a T. We wanted to stop their running game and hold their three big guys inside. . . . Northeastern is a talented ballclub.” As well as Fullerton played, Northeastern hung tight. After Hill gave Fullerton the 3-point lead, Barry Abercrombie cut it to 1 off an offensive rebound. Hill went up for a jumper at the free-throw line, hanging in to draw the foul and knocking in the basket. With the free throw, Fullerton led, 53-49. Northeastern cut it to 2 on another offensive rebound by Abercrombie.

At the other end, Hill took a 3-pointer, and missed. The ball caromed back, and Hill, left open, shot again, this time hitting it for a 56-51 lead.

Titan Notes

John Sykes, who has played more minutes at center than David Moody, started for only the second time. He had 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block and fouled out after suffering an ankle injury. Trainer Jerry Lloyd said the extent of the injury is uncertain until this morning.