Fullerton Is Beaten by San Jose

Cal State Fullerton hoped to take out some frustration on last-place San Jose State Monday night but instead wound up creating a whole new set of frustrations for itself.

The Titans played dismally in the first 13 minutes, appeared sluggish throughout the game and wilted in the end of an 80-70 loss to the Spartans before 1,653 in the Event Center.

Five players scored in double figures for San Jose State, which ended a six-game losing streak and improved to 3-11, 1-4 in the Big West Conference. Fullerton center Aaron Wilhite, who had a career-high 27 points, 13 of them on free throws, was the only effective offensive player for the Titans (10-5, 3-3).

“San Jose had much more pop and snap in their offense than us,” Fullerton Coach John Sneed said. “They played much quicker than we played. Our fuel tank got low and we ran out of gas at times.”

The Titans began on empty, falling behind the Spartans, 35-16, with 6:59 left in the half. San Jose State guard Mike Wasserburger, a walk-on who finished with 17 points, scored the Spartans’ first 11 points.

But Fullerton recharged itself, closing the half with an 18-2 run that made it 37-34 at halftime.

The Titans took a four-point lead early in the second half but couldn’t hold it. The Spartans pulled away with about five minutes left and made just enough free throws--eight of 12--in the last 1:13 to maintain the lead.

Fullerton guard Joe Small, who has brought the Titans back from many deficits with his outside shooting, couldn’t find his range in the second half and missed 11 of 12 shots. Five misses came in the last 2:30, when Fullerton still had a chance to come back.

For the second consecutive game, Small, who finished with 17 points, and point guard Wayne Williams, who had nine, went the distance. Agee Ward (seven points) and Bruce Bowen (eight) played 37 minutes each, and Wilhite played 35 minutes.

The Titans are in the middle of a conference schedule that has them playing eight games in 17 days.