No Defense for Fullerton in Loss to New Mexico St.

The one day Cal State Fullerton’s offense finally scored a breakthrough, the usually reliable Titan defense broke down.

New Mexico State enjoyed a big-play bonanza Saturday, totaling 516 yards--many in huge chunks--en route to a 44-31 Big West Conference victory over Fullerton before 12,821 in Aggie Memorial Stadium.

Charles Puleri, New Mexico State quarterback, completed 20 of 42 passes, including five plays that went for 33 yards or more. He had 361 yards passing and four touchdowns.

Ezell Brown caught eight passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, Atlas Reagor caught five passes for 114 yards and a touchdown, and running back Ray Washington gained 112 yards in seven carries, with a long run of 49 yards. New Mexico State is 5-5, 2-3 in the conference, and has won more games this season than it did in the four previous seasons combined.

The Titans (2-8, 0-5) scored more points, had more total yards (425) and more passing yards (170) Saturday than in any game this season. But they also lost five of seven fumbles to tie the NCAA single-season record for fumbles lost (39), set by Texas Southern in 1977. They have fumbled 68 times.