No Heroics for Williams in Loss to Pacific

Cal State Fullerton guard Wayne Williams, who beat Pacific with a three-point basket at the buzzer last season, had another chance to be a star Saturday night.

But there were no miracle finishes this time. Williams’ off-balance, 15-footer from the right baseline missed, and Pacific held on for a 75-73 overtime victory before 2,802 in the Spanos Center.

The Titans, who fell to 10-4, 3-2 in the Big West Conference, trailed, 75-73, but had the ball with 13 seconds left after Tiger forward Randy Morphew missed the front end of a one-and-one free-throw opportunity. Fullerton was attempting to isolate guard Joe Small, who scored 20 points, and forward Agee Ward, who had 17, on the right side, with Small on the wing and Ward posting up inside.

But Pacific (7-8, 3-3) guard Anthony Woods, who held Small to one field goal in the second half, reached around Small and knocked the ball away. Small retrieved it near the top of the key and passed to Williams on the right wing with five seconds left.

Tiger guard Dell Demps forced Williams to drive toward the baseline from which he missed a difficult shot, and the Titans lost their first close game of the season. Fullerton had been 5-0 in games decided by three or fewer points.

“In the past, we’ve been in situations where we’ve played hard and come away with the win,” said Williams, who had 11 points, eight assists and three steals and played all 45 minutes. “We played hard tonight but didn’t make the shots in the end. I guess it was meant to be this way.”