With Leading Scorer Out, Fullerton Comes Up Short

Cal State Fullerton left its offense on the bench while Nevada Las Vegas defeated the Titans on Wednesday night, 77-66, at Fullerton.

Specifically, the Titan offense was wearing a black leather jacket, a green shirt and blue sweat pants.

Winston Peterson, with flu.

It wasn’t exactly the news Fullerton Coach Brad Holland needed an hour before tipoff--Peterson is the Titans’ leading scorer and rebounder. But, then again, this wasn’t exactly the UNLV team of years past.

This could be the year that Big West teams get revenge on the Rebels, 5-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference. After scoring 39 points on Monday against Virginia, the lowest output in school history, UNLV couldn’t put Fullerton away Wednesday--and the Titans started one walk-on and suited up only eight players.

Fullerton was within three points, 65-62, when the Titans’ Darren Little (16 points) dunked with 5:24 left and within five, 69-64, when James French (11 points) drove the lane with 3:01 remaining.

But Kebu Stewart, who finished with a game-high 21 points, scored after an offensive rebound on UNLV’s next trip. French turned the ball over after that, and a few minutes later, the Titans (2-8, 0-2) were still zero-for-Division I opponents for the year.

Despite shooting 31% from the field--14% from three-point territory, Fullerton actually led for an eight-minute span in the first half. This also despite the fact that Peterson is the only Titan who can consistently bang under the boards.

But UNLV doesn’t have much firepower, either. The Rebels spent at least half the game in a 2-3 zone, and it was what enabled them to regain the lead they had lost during a sluggish first half, which ended with UNLV leading, 34-28.