CS Fullerton Survives Mistakes and Wins, 93-91

Cal State Fullerton, despite a rash of errors in the closing minutes, still managed to beat Utah, 93-91, in a Big West Conference game Monday night.

The Titans lost Joe Small, their leading scorer, with 24 seconds to play, then turned the ball over with 12 seconds to play to give Utah a final chance to win the game.

But Aggie guard Allen Gordon missed with five seconds left, and Kendall Youngblood’s last-second 50-footer missed.

“I feel real lucky to win,” said Titan guard Wayne Williams, who had 15 points and nine assists. “(Gordon) was open on that shot, and he had just made a big play before that.”

A crowd of 1,717 at Titan Gym endured some tense moments late in the game as Fullerton let a five-point lead slip away. Aggie guard Jay Goodman, who made six of 14 three-pointers and finished with 31 points, keyed the comeback, but Small, who scored 26 points before fouling out, and Bruce Bowen brought Fullerton back.

Small’s off-balance jumper and free throw gave the Titans an 86-84 lead with 2:11 left, and Bowen made three of four foul shots in the next 1:19 to keep Fullerton ahead by three, 89-86.

Gordon drove the lane, banked in a shot, was fouled and made the free throw with 24 seconds to go to make it 91-88, and Fullerton’s Agee Ward made only one of two foul shots on the other end for a 92-88 lead.

Goodman’s three-pointer from the right corner cut it to one, 92-91, with 15 seconds left, and the Titans turned the ball over when Bowen couldn’t handle Ward’s long in-bounds pass.

But Gordon, after driving almost the length of the court, missed the short jumper, and Fullerton improved to 9-3, 2-1 in conference. Utah State fell to 5-7, 2-1.