Titans Struggle in Clutch, Lose to Fresno State, 73-65

Fresno State has fallen on hard times since Boyd Grant’s last season as coach in 1986, but a measure of the Bulldogs’ former dominance remains at home in Selland Arena, where Cal State Fullerton suffered a 73-65 loss Thursday after going cold in the final 10 minutes.

The Titans went without a basket for 6 minutes 50 seconds, and scored only four points after Agee Ward’s two free throws gave Fullerton a four-point lead with 9:54 remaining.

“I thought we were in pretty good shape, and then all of a sudden we went flat,” said Coach John Sneed, whose Titans lost by 21 points here last year.

Coach Ron Adams’ teams have won only 41 games in his four seasons as coach; 33 of those victories have been in Selland Arena. The Bulldogs have won only nine of 20 games, and the victory over Fullerton was their first over an opponent ahead of them in the Big West Conference standings, in which they are eighth.

Fullerton (12-9, 6-6 in the league) beat Fresno State by eight points in Titan Gym last month in a game it once led by 25 points. But the Bulldogs were a tougher team in Selland Arena.

“Defensively, they’re much better at home than on the road,” Sneed said. “Maybe the crowd gets them going. They play much more up-tempo at home, too, and they attack the press more.”

Fresno State (9-11, 4-7) held a 32-30 halftime lead behind the three-point shooting of Tod Bernard, who finished with 18 points and two three-point baskets, and Dave Barnett, who scored 13 points, including three-of-three shooting from three-point range.

Fullerton pulled ahead by as many as six points with 13 minutes left. Ward, fouled by Chris Henderson, made two free throws, and then Mark Hill made a free throw after Henderson was charged with a technical foul. On the possession after the technical, Hill made a three-point shot and Fullerton led, 57-51.

Fresno came back, taking advantage of Fullerton’s cold shooting. Bernard tied the score, 61-61, with an off-balance jump shot, and Pat Riddlesprigger gave Fresno State the lead with a layup.