Utah State Pulls Plug on Titans’ Energy Savers : College basketball: Fullerton tries to slow the pace, but the result is a 74-63 defeat, its fourth in a row.

Cal State Fullerton walked the ball upcourt after winning the tip Thursday night at Utah State.

Then, the Titans stood at halfcourt, passing the ball back and forth, working the shot clock down.

They did it again and again--walking when they would usually have run.

Coach John Sneed’s energy-saving game plan threw Utah State out of kilter offensively.

Eventually, though, the Aggies overcame Fullerton’s slow-down tactics, winning, 74-63, before 5,344 in the Spectrum.

It was Fullerton’s fourth consecutive loss and sixth in the past seven games.

And it was a far different game from Fullerton’s 93-91 victory over Utah State on Jan. 7 at Titan Gym.

“When they came down the first time and stood around, I thought, “Is this the same team?”’ Utah State center Randy Funk said. “I was shocked.”

Funk asked Fullerton’s Agee Ward what was up.

Said Ward: “Some . . . our coach is trying.”

Sneed’s reasoning was simple, and with only a seven-man rotation in Logan’s 4,900-foot altitude, probably sound.

He said he wanted to “shorten” the game, keeping the score in the 60s, while keeping the Titans fresh.

Playing without center Aaron Wilhite, sidelined for the fifth consecutive game with a bruised knee, and backup Ron Caldwell, suspended for missing practice, Sneed didn’t want the Titans in a running game.

With only seven regulars, Sneed thought the Titans had run out of gas at critical times in recent games.

“It was something we wanted to try up here,” Sneed said. “The game plan was good for us. We’re only playing 6 1/2 people. Greg Vernon only played three minutes, so he’s our half. It’s really tough to play up here.”

For the most part, the Titans’ plodding pace kept them close. But a 7-0 start by Utah State left them trailing early. Fullerton (11-9, 4-7 in the Big West) never led and never tied the Aggies (8-11, 5-5).

Late in the game, Fullerton was within four points three times--the last at 67-63 after Vernon made two free throws with 1:05 left.

But Utah State made five of six free throws and a layup at the buzzer and Fullerton, trying desperate three-pointers, went cold.

“We couldn’t get over the hump,” said Titan guard Joe Small, who had 24 points.

Small made nine of 21 from the field, but missed all five three-point attempts in 39 minutes.

Ward, starting in place of Wilhite, had 11 points in 35 minutes. Fullerton’s other starters also put in long minutes.

Utah State was shorthanded as well.

Leading scorer Jay Goodman sprained his ankle in practice Tuesday and did not play against the Titans.

Without Goodman, Kendall Youngblood led the Aggies with 23 points on eight-for-15 shooting. Funk added 14 points, making seven of eight.

Youngblood scored the Aggies’ first eight points of the second half, and Utah State pushed a 33-28 halftime lead to 41-30 after 3:10.

From there, Fullerton stuck to its plan and began to chip away at the lead.

But each time the Titans got within four, bad things kept happening.

After Small banked in a short jumper over Funk, Fullerton trailed, 61-57, with 4:40 left. But with a chance to pull within two, J.D. Green was called for walking at the top of the key.

Two free throws by Small brought the Titans to within 63-59 with 3:10 left. But Rich Jardine made two free throws.

Later, Funk beat Ward on a drive to the basket for a 67-61 Utah State lead. Vernon’s free throws made it 67-63. But Jardine made two free throws, Gordon one, Youngblood two more and Funk added a layup in the final seconds.

Later, Small said he wasn’t fatigued, despite playing at higher altitude for the first time in his career.

“When (Sneed) first told us about it, most of us didn’t like it,” Small said. “We’re used to running up and down. But I think it’s going to help us in the long run.”

Titan Notes

Utah State shot 54.9% and had 10 turnovers to Fullerton’s 41.5% (34.4% in the second half) and 15 turnovers.