Titan Guard Will Miss Four Weeks

Cal State Fullerton guard Brian Thomas will be out for at least four weeks because of a broken bone in his right foot, Coach Bob Hawking said Monday.

Thomas, a 6-3 junior whose 35-foot shot at the buzzer gave the Titans an overtime victory over San Diego State last Tuesday, re-injured his foot in Saturday’s loss to Gonzaga that dropped Fullerton to 1-3 for the season.

Thomas also missed four weeks because of the original injury in the first week of practice.

“That’s really a bad blow for Brian, as well as for our program,” Hawking said. “He was just starting to get in good playing shape again.”

Thomas’ injury comes at a time when the status of top reserve guard Chris St. Clair is uncertain beyond Saturday’s game against Loyola Marymount.

St. Clair has not fully recovered from a knee injury late last season that required surgery, although he has played in the first four games. St. Clair, also a junior, is expected to play Saturday, but might sit out the rest of the season and apply for an medical redshirt season. A decision is expected early next week.

Thomas’ playing time had steadily increased until his injury Saturday. Thomas scored 12 points in each of two games with San Diego State and Cal State Northridge, but was scoreless Saturday in 12 minutes.

“Brian had a good game against San Diego State, and we thought he was starting to really come along,” Hawking said. “We were getting more confidence in him and he was getting confidence in himself.”

Hawking said Thomas’ foot will be put in a cast.

Thomas, who is a transfer from Navarro College in Corsicana, Tex., already has used a redshirt season.