Short Cuts Help Titans Get Ahead

Short hair is “in” these days for the Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball team. So, all of a sudden, are victories.

A few players adopted the shaved-head look, assistant coach George Fuller followed, and even Coach Bob Hawking joined in after Saturday night’s victory over New Mexico State.

Assistants George Tuttle and Jeff Dunlap stopped short of what Hawking has been kidding them is a “total commitment,” but after their most recent trips to the barber even their hair isn’t much longer than the grass on a golf course fairway.

It’s doubtful the hairstyles have anything to do with it, but the Titans have been playing better basketball lately.

Fullerton has a three-game winning streak and has won four consecutive at home for a 4-3 record in the Big West.

The Titans need only one more Big West victory to equal last season’s total.

“It’s been more fun around here since we’ve been winning a few games,” Hawking said, smiling and wearing a baseball cap he said he needs “to keep my head warm.”

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Last week’s victories marked the first time Fullerton has beaten New Mexico State and UNLV, traditionally two of the conference’s heavyweights, in the same season, much less in successive games.

“The thing that we’re reminding the players this week is that you’re only as good as what you do in your next game,” Hawking said. “And we’re going to continue needing maximum effort.

“But we’re definitely improving. We’re combining better execution with the kind of good effort the players have been putting forth all season, and that’s made a difference. Our rebounding and defense have been very solid lately.”

Fullerton’s rebounding has improved since conference play started to the point the Titans are virtually even with Big West opponents in rebound margin despite generally having three guards in the lineup.

The Titans’ shooting also has been considerably better in conference play. Fullerton is 45.8% from the field in conference, tied for first in that category, compared to 41.5% for all games. Guard Chris Dade has played a key role in that turnaround. Dade has averaged 20 points over the last four games, including a career-high 28 against Irvine.

“When we lost Chris St. Clair for the rest of the season, it made us have to depend a lot more on Chris Dade to shoot the ball from outside,” Hawking said.

“The big difference for Dade is that he’s healthy now. He was really bothered by that tendinitis in his right knee before. You really need solid legs as a shooter. We’ve also been working a lot with him on his shot. Our assistants have been putting in a lot of overtime with him on that. He’s scoring much better now, and at a time when we continue to ask him to hold key people down defensively.”

Hawking shifted Dade to guard New Mexico State’s William Johnson after Johnson scored 10 points in the first half Saturday. Dade held him scoreless the rest of the way.

The Titans have been particularly thin at the off-guard position with St. Clair as well as junior Brian Thomas out, giving Dade little rest. He played 39 minutes against UNLV and 34 against New Mexico State.

Thomas, however, has returned to practice after being sidelined since Dec. 9 with a broken bone in his right foot. He is expected to resume playing no later than next week.

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Fullerton’s next two games are on the road, Thursday against defending regular-season champion Utah State and Saturday against Nevada, which beat Long Beach State, 79-75, in the Pyramid Saturday.

“There haven’t been many games won on the road in our conference by anyone so far,” Hawking said, “and Utah State has been an especially tough place for us to play.”

Fullerton hasn’t won at Logan since 1982.

Titan Notes

Forward John Williams said he’s especially hoping to do well Thursday against Utah State. Williams originally signed with Utah State, but left to be with his young son after spending only a short time there. He was able to have the letter of intent voided for hardship reasons. . . . The test broadcast of Fullerton men’s basketball on the Internet Saturday went well, according to assistant athletic director Mel Franks. The remaining Titan road games will be carried live on the Internet. They can be accessed at https://sports.fullerton.edu and follow links to Cal State Fullerton Live. The road games also are carried, audio only, on the Titan TV Channel on some cable systems in northern Orange County. . . . Fullerton will admit free anyone with a bald or shaved head to its men’s basketball game with Long Beach State next week in honor of Coach Bob Hawking’s new shaved-head look, according to Jeff Poltorak, Fullerton’s promotions coordinator. . . . The women’s basketball team has lost six of its last seven games and only Sheila Bradshaw, at 14.9 points, is averaging in double figures.