Fullerton Thrashed by New Mexico State

The frustration had been building for New Mexico State.

The Aggies started the season as clear favorites to win a third consecutive Big West basketball championship, and they were ranked among the nation’s top 20 teams as late as mid-January. But two losses in the last three games dumped them out of the top 20 and left them two games behind conference-leading Utah State.

That put Cal State Fullerton in the wrong place at the wrong time Thursday night as New Mexico State routed the Titans, 106-74, before 1,171 in Titan Gym, handing Fullerton its most decisive loss at home in 22 years.

It was Fullerton’s biggest margin of defeat since it lost to Nevada Las Vegas, 99-65, in the conference tournament in 1987 and was the largest winning margin in the series between Fullerton and New Mexico State.

Seventeen of the 23 games between the two schools have been decided by eight points or fewer.

“It was a complete breakdown on our part,” Fullerton Coach Bob Hawking said.

The Titans committed 29 turnovers and were overwhelmed by New Mexico State’s fast break. The Aggies had seven players in double figures with guard Rodney Walker and reserve forward Crafton Ferguson getting 19 points apiece.

The Aggies are 15-5, 6-3; the Titans 6-12, 4-6.

“We knew we had to come out and get it tonight,” said Walker, who hit eight of 12 shots from the floor to go with four steals. “It was do or die. We got our fast break going and we’re good when we can force the tempo.”

Only a 25-point performance by Titan center Winston Peterson kept it from being worse. Peterson was nine for 13 from the floor, helping keep Fullerton’s shooting at a respectable 44.8%. Guard Chris St. Clair had 14 points and reserve Dave Harrison added 10.

The Aggies, overwhelming the Titans with their jumping ability and quickness, shot 63.9% in the second half and finished at 58.8%.