Small and Ward Pace Titans to Ragged Exhibition Victory

As Cal State Fullerton basketball Coach John Sneed said, the Titans’ 124-109 exhibition victory over Fellowship of Christian Athletes Wednesday night was “not a clinic by any means.”

Junior guard Joe Small scored 24 of his 31 points in the second half, and junior forward Agee Ward added 26 points and 13 rebounds to pace Fullerton. But the Titans looked ragged at times, turning the ball over 19 times and committing 25 fouls.

Starting point guard Wayne Williams, who re-injured his ankle in Tuesday’s practice, didn’t suit up, and his absence was felt Wednesday night.

Because backup point guard Dareck Crane has been ruled academically ineligible until mid-December, Sneed started shooting guard Small at the point.

Small, whose previous point guard experience amounted to a few games during his freshman year at College of the Sequoias, did an adequate job, but the Titans didn’t seem the same without Williams, a two-year starter.

Fullerton had trouble scoring out of its half-court offense and didn’t really get on track until it got the fast break working midway through the first half.

Most of Small’s 12 assists came off the fast break, and most of his points came either off the break or when he moved over to the wing position.

“We need Wayne on the floor--that was very evident tonight,” Sneed said. “I don’t want to take anything away from Joe, but having him at the point really throws our timing off in the offense. I knew our best bet would be running up and down the floor with this team.”

Williams, who has been suffering from bone chips in his ankle, said he’d be back for Fullerton’s season-opener against Lamar Monday night.