Titans Hold Off Aussies in Basketball Opener

Cal State Fullerton took the wraps off the 1990-91 basketball season with an 88-83 exhibition victory over the Illiwarra Hawks, an Australian club team, Saturday night at Titan Gym.

All things considered, the victory was a break from dire preseason predictions. At Wednesday’s media day, Big West Conference coaches picked Fullerton for last place.

Fullerton survived a late run by Illiwarra, letting a 14-point lead midway through the second half dwindle to 82-80 with less than two minutes left.

But the Titans didn’t panic. Agee Ward made a 10-foot jumper for an 84-80 lead with 1:20 to play. Illiwarra’s Norman Taylor dribbled off his foot at the other end. Wayne Williams made three free throws and Joe Small had one down the stretch for the Titans.

“What pleased me more than anything else was when someone makes a run at you, and you hold them,” Fullerton Coach John Sneed said. “Winning builds confidence, helps morale and makes you believe in what you’re doing out on the practice floor.”

Fullerton had trouble defending Taylor, the Hawks’ 6-foot-6, 230-pound center, who had a game-high 30 points.

He had eight points in the final six minutes and was setting up for a short jumper when he bounced the ball of his shoe and into Small’s hands.

Ward had 21 points off the bench to lead the Titans. Williams, a senior point guard who is Fullerton’s only returning starter, had a steady opener with 20 points and eight assists, including a behind-the-head flip to Ward for a dunk on a fast break.

Small, from Bolsa Grande High School and College of the Sequoias, had 19 points.