Titans Misfire Again, Colorado State Rolls : Basketball: Fullerton shoots 37.7% from the field in losing, 87-70, and drops to 1-5.

Some people leave bread crumbs. As for Cal State Fullerton, you could track the Titans around Colorado this week by following their trail of missed shots.

The Titans shot only 37.7% Thursday against Colorado State, lost, 87-70, and headed home wondering just what it will take to make the ball go through the hoop again.

“Our shooting was pathetic,” said Coach Brad Holland, who watched his team fall to 1-5, the worst start for Fullerton since the 1980-81 team started 1-6. “Part of the reason was their defense and part of the reason was we made some bad decisions.”

And the day had what the players thought was a productive beginning. After an early afternoon shoot-around, the Titans returned to the hotel and, at Holland’s suggestion, held a players-only meeting. With eight of nine players new to the team this season, Holland has been bothered that there has been little communication among them on the court.

“We discussed what we expected from each other, what our roles are on the team, and enthusiasm,” said guard Greg Vernon, the only healthy returning player from last year’s team. “If you’re a fan, it was things fans see maybe we lack.”

Said forward Darren Little: “Everybody took constructive criticism. I feel like this team is uptight. Once we get that punch, and go out for loose balls and things like that, things will click for us.

“But when we play a game, it seems like we’re going to a funeral. It’s silent. There’s not a lot of talking on defense.”

And this week, there hasn’t been much to talk about on offense. They shot 35% in a 79-69 loss at Colorado on Tuesday and started Thursday’s game by making 27% of their first-half shots (nine of 33). The two-game total in Colorado: 36%.

“We really stressed holding them to 35% from the field,” Colorado State center Joe Vogel said. “We really thought that our defense would step up.”

Things were so bad for Fullerton that the Colorado State trainer sat on the bench folding the Rams’ towels, preparing to pack them into a duffel bag, with 6:00 remaining and the game going on in front of him.

It was the first game in which the Titans simply weren’t competitive. They trailed by their largest halftime margin of the season, 44-27. And it went downhill from there.

Holland called Colorado State (6-2), the third Western Athletic Conference team the Titans have played, the best team Fullerton has faced this winter. The Titans were impressed, too.

“They knew most of our plays,” Vernon said. “They were calling them out before we did. They really had us scouted. They’re just well-coached, that’s all I can say.”

Holland, looking for the right formula from his thin, nine-man unit, inserted 6-foot-9 David Frigout into the starting lineup in place of freshman Josh King for the first time this season. But Frigout, nursing a bad cold, made only two of eight field-goal attempts and finished with seven points and five rebounds.

“When you’re not winning games, you try different lineups and different things,” Holland said. “We’re just searching for some answers right now.”

Frigout didn’t seem to provide them.

“David played soft,” Holland said. “He needs to get aggressive and stronger. I didn’t feel he was ready to play tonight, based on his performance.”

Winston Peterson, who played only 28 minutes, led Fullerton with 21 points, James French had 15 and Little added 10. Jeff Shelley had 22 for Colorado State.

The Titans, who now have five consecutive home games, will take today and Christmas off and return to practice Sunday. Perhaps talked out from their team meeting, the Titans didn’t have much to say as they packed their bags Thursday night.

“At this point in time, there is nothing to say,” Holland said. “We just need to go home and regroup. There’s nothing to say. This game speaks for itself.”