Fullerton Victory Means Coach Gets a Shaved Head

Cal State Fullerton got its fourth Big West Conference basketball victory Saturday night, and Coach Bob Hawking ended up with a shaved head.

“I told the team if they got four, I’d do it,” said Hawking, “and I lived up to my commitment.”

Freshman guard Kenroy Jarrett gave Hawking the haircut in the locker room immediately after the Titans, picked to finish last in the conference, won their third consecutive game and fourth in a row at home, 85-72, against New Mexico State.

The 1,007 in Titan Gym saw Fullerton, 5-10 overall and 4-3 in the conference, end a string of nine consecutive losses to the Aggies behind strong performances from John Williams along with Chris Dade, Chuck Overton and Jarrett.

Williams scored a career-high 26 points, making 11 of 12 shots from the field with Fullerton forcing the ball inside in the second half. Dade was four of seven on three-point shots and finished with 20 points. Overton was seven of 14 from the field for 18, and Jarrett added a career-high 12 points.

The Titans had a 37-29 rebounding advantage with Williams getting nine, and Overton and freshman Mark Richardson seven each. Fullerton shot 51% from the field to 42% for the Aggies.

“I saw that they were smaller than me, so I took it inside every time I had a chance,” said Williams, who made 11 consecutive shots.

Williams didn’t start for the second game in a row after sitting out the victory over UC Irvine because of a hand injury, but he wasn’t bothered by that.

“I kind of like coming off the bench, to tell you the truth,” he said. “It gives me some time to think about what the team needs.”

New Mexico State fell to 4-10, 1-5.