This Fullerton Victory Results in a Close Shave for Hawking

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,” Hawking said, “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, beating New Mexico State, 85-72.

The 1,077 in Titan Gym saw Fullerton (5-10, 4-3 in the conference) end a string of nine consecutive losses to the Aggies, helped by strong performances from John Williams, Chris Dade, Chuck Overton and Jarrett.

Williams scored a career-high 26 points, making 11 of 12 shots from the field as Fullerton forced 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 points, and Jarrett had a career-high 12 points.

The Titans had a 37-29 rebounding advantage. Williams had nine and Overton and freshman Mark Richardson each had seven. 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. “And everyone is playing with a lot of confidence now. Everyone is smiling and thinking we can win.”

Williams didn’t start for the second game in a row after sitting out the victory over UC Irvine because of 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.”

Hawking said he’s not going to change anything right now, and likely will keep sophomore DeVaughn Wright as the starter.

“Devo gives us some good defense at the start, and I’m not one to tamper with success,” Hawking said. “We’ve dealt with some adversity and the kids have hung in there. We’re playing well as a team right now.”

The Aggies, who have never finished with a losing record in 10 previous seasons under Neil McCarthy, moved closer to that possibility, falling to to 4-10, 1-5 in the conference. New Mexico State has won 21 or more games for seven years in a row.

This is the first time the Aggies have lost five consecutive games under McCarthy.

McCarthy said his team’s rebounding problems probably ended up being the most costly. “They attacked the boards with a great deal more aggressiveness than we did,” he said. “We didn’t hang in there in the second half on the boards.”

Neither team, however, was able to gain much of an advantage in the first half. The Titans had an 18-13 lead early, but the Aggies came back for a 29-25 lead and were on top later, 34-31. Two baskets by Williams and Jarrett’s free throw brought Fullerton back to a 36-36 tie at the break.

Williams was virtually a one-man show for the Titans early in the second half, scoring 10 points in the first four minutes. Dade found the range on two three-point shots and Fullerton went ahead, 55-49.

The Titans looked as though they might break the game open when they went up 68-59, but consecutive three-pointers by Keith Torian brought the Aggies back. Fullerton came back again for 75-69 lead when Richardson scored on an out-of-bounds play and made a free throw after he was fouled. Fullerton was never threatened again.