Titans Free-Throw Shooting Falls Short

If they could make free throws, the Cal State Fullerton Titans could be in much better shape than 1-3 this morning and staring at a two-game swing through Colorado next week.

The Titans came within 15 feet . . . and 15 feet . . . and 15 feet . . . of upsetting Utah Saturday night in Titan Gym. But, being that each Fullerton trip to the free-throw line was a wondrous event-- wonder where the ball is going this time? --the Titans’ bid to steal a victory fell short, 76-73, in front of 994.

The Titans played sticky defense, ran a press as well as they have all year and figured out ways to break Winston Peterson (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Darren Little (21 points) loose inside against the significantly taller Utes. But they also clanked five of 10 first-half free throws and eight of 25 in the second half. That equaled 62.9% free-throw shooting.

“Foul-shooting is plaguing a lot of teams across the nation and, right now, we’re one of them,” Titan Coach Brad Holland said.

Fullerton entered the game shooting only 60% from the line, and Saturday’s was the second of four games in which poor free-throw shooting hurt Fullerton. In their season-opening 18-point loss at Wyoming, the Titans made only 50% of their free throws.

The Utes (5-2), playing without guard Phil Dixon and his 10.5 points per game, didn’t have a field goal in the game’s final 5:33, but they didn’t need one. They made 12 of 12 free throws down the stretch and were 28 of 31 (90.3%) for the game.

“They were knocking down free throws and it was hard to close in,” Titan guard James French said.

The Titans led for 13 of the game’s first 20 minutes. They built a 17-7 lead thanks to a nifty three-point play by Greg Vernon--he dunked going around two Utah defenders--and a Little three-pointer.

However, once Utah warmed up and Fullerton kicked away some free-throw opportunities, the Utes closed with a 30-13 run to take a 37-30 halftime lead.

Utah went ahead by as many as 12 in the second half before Fullerton, using the full-court press and Peterson’s inside play, pulled to within three, 66-63, with 2:51 left.

“I think we kind of relaxed in the last few minutes, and that hurt us a lot,” said Keith Van Horn, a 6-foot-9 freshman from Diamond Bar who led the Utes with 20 points and six rebounds.

The Titans, though, couldn’t get closer than three.Little hit a three-pointer to cut the Utes’ lead to 74-71, but Terry Preston’s two free throws with 17 seconds left iced it.

Titan Notes

The news off the court is bad for Fullerton as well. Forward Todd Satalowich, one of only two returning players from last season’s team, is probably out for the year after suffering recurring pain in his back. Satalowich has been limited to two minutes this season because of a toe injury and, apparently, limping has aggravated his back. “He’s had two back surgeries already, and he’s decided it probably is not going to work out for him to play this year,” Coach Brad Holland said. . . . Also, Jerome Washington, a 6-6 forward from Mid-Plains Community College in Nebraska, failed to earn his degree at Rancho Santiago Community College and will not become eligible this month as expected.