Titans Suffer Without Peterson

Facing one of the Big West’s most physically imposing teams without your top scorer and rebounder is certainly not a spirit-lifting prospect.

Things haven’t been going well for Cal State Fullerton in the last three games anyway. But the Titans had to go against Nevada Thursday night without Winston Peterson, the second leading scorer in the Big West, who was ill.

It turned out to be a fairly predictable victory for the Wolf Pack, 91-77, but the Titans gave Nevada some anxious moments when they cut the lead to 65-60 with seven minutes remaining.

The outcome ended Nevada’s three-game losing streak and stretched Fullerton’s to four games, its longest of the season. Nevada (11-9) moved up to 7-5 in conference play while the Titans fell to 6-14, 4-8.

A strep throat kept Peterson from making the trip to Reno, and his status for Saturday’s game at Utah State is uncertain and won’t be determined until later today or Saturday.

With Peterson out, David Frigout moved into the center position from his normal forward spot, leaving the Titans outmanned inside defensively. Forward David Harrison and guard Chuck Overton came off the bench to turn in strong scoring performances, but the Titans missed Peterson’s rebounding the most. Harrison finished with 24 points and Overton had 20, both career highs, but the Titans couldn’t overcome Nevada’s 48-24 rebounding advantage.

“Their domination of their offensive board was the largest single factor in the game,” Titan Coach Bob Hawking said. “Their overall rebounding was unbelievable. It obviously would have been a big plus for us to have Winston.”

But Hawking was especially pleased by the effort turned in by Harrison and Overton. “They both played exceptionally well, unquestionably their best efforts of the season,” he said. “I’m happy for both those guys. It’s been a transition for both of them, coming in from junior colleges.”

Overton was dropped from the starting lineup for the first time this season in favor of freshman forward John Williams and guard Chris St. Clair, but he responded by hitting nine of 10 shots from the floor, and was two for two on three-point attempts. Harrison was seven for 10 from the field and nine for nine on free throws.

“I sort of expected to come out of the starting lineup earlier since I’ve been struggling,” Overton said. “Coach knows best.”

Hawking said the move was designed to motivate Overton. “We may have to see how he does in that sixth man sort of role,” Hawking said. “It sure worked tonight.”

Brian Green led the Wolf Pack with 24 points. He had been out of the starting lineup for for five games for what had been looked upon by the Nevada coaches as some stints of selfish play. Forward Jimmy Moore scored 16 and reserve guard Shawn Pughsley had 15 for Nevada.

The Titans shot only 35.7% in the first half and fell behind, 41-27, at halftime. But Fullerton bounced back to shoot 62.5% in the second half to finish at 50%. Nevada hit 50.7% from the floor, 57% in the second half.

Nevada Coach Pat Foster said he remembered Cal State Fullerton’s upset of his team in the Lawlor Center last year when his team couldn’t shake the Titans midway into the second half.

“I was more than concerned right then, I was frightened,” Foster said. “It was almost a carbon copy of that game here last year. Only this time, we were able to hit some shots in that situation. If we hadn’t done that, they would have beaten us.”