Titans Surprise No. 21 New Mexico State, 89-81 : Big West: Ward plays a big role for CS Fullerton, which beats Aggies without No. 1 and 2 centers.

Cal State Fullerton, the team that could do little right while losing to last-place San Jose State Monday, did little wrong against New Mexico State Saturday night.

For much of the game, the Titans handled the Aggies’ vaunted zone press and matchup zone with ease. They had their best shooting night of the season and got some solid play from some unexpected sources to defeat No. 21 New Mexico State, 89-81, before 2,119 in Titan Gym.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Titans, who improved to 11-5, 4-3 in the Big West Conference. The Aggies dropped to 12-2, 4-1.

“It doesn’t matter how we played against San Jose State,” Fullerton Coach John Sneed said. “There’s magic in our house. We play great in Titan Gym. The odds were extremely against us with two front-line players out, but our effort was outstanding.”

With starting center Aaron Wilhite out with a knee injury and reserve center Ron Caldwell suspended from the team, Fullerton started Agee Ward, normally a forward, at center and Kevin Ahsmuhs, who had played 103 minutes in 15 previous games, at forward.

Ward responded with 26 points and 15 rebounds, both career highs, and Ahsmuhs had eight points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots before fouling out and leaving to a standing ovation with six seconds remaining.

“I never would have expected that,” Ahsmuhs said. “I went into the game thinking I was going to play more and wanted to let whatever was going to happen, happen. It just happened great for us.”

Guard Joe Small scored 21 points and Bruce Bowen, who had constant success penetrating the Aggies’ half-court defense and pulling up for short jumpers, added 20 points and eight rebounds.

“I thought we did an outstanding job attacking the matchup zone,” Sneed said. “We used the dribble extremely well and were able to penetrate all night.”

New Mexico State, which relies on its defense to start many scoring opportunities, may be good in the transition game, but the Aggies didn’t have much of a half-court offense Saturday night.

Instead of attacking Fullerton’s zone, New Mexico State seemed content to pass the ball around the perimeter and shoot from outside. The Aggies had a poor shooting night, making 29 of 77 shots (37.7%) and four of 24 three-pointers (16.7%).

If not for a late-game surge, when New Mexico State cut a 16-point deficit to six, 85-79, with 43 seconds left, it would have been a blowout.

“It’s disappointing when you lose, but it’s tough when you go on the road in our conference,” Aggie Coach Neil McCarthy said. “I can’t think of anyone who had a particularly good game for us, and no one played well off the bench. When 10 guys don’t play well, the normal conclusion to that is a loss.”