Titans Find Right Formula Against Aggies

Cal State Fullerton finally came up with the formula for its first Big West men’s basketball victory on the road this season, and got a sweep of New Mexico State in the process.

The Titans shot 51% from the field and made 23 of 27 of free throws to beat the Aggies, 68-63, Thursday night, ending a string of eight consecutive losses in the Pan American Center.

It was the first time the Titans have won both games against New Mexico State since the 1986-87 season. The Aggies had won nine in a row from Fullerton before the Titans stopped that streak last month in Titan Gym .

“That kind of free throw shooting is a big boost on the road,” Titan Coach Bob Hawking said.

The victory in front of 4,755 was helped by a 36-24 rebounding advantage.

Four Titans scored in double figures. John Williams scored 18 points to go with a game-high nine rebounds. Chuck Overton had 17 points and was seven of eight on free throws. Chris Dade had 16 and was seven of nine at the line. Reserve guard Brian Thomas finished with 10 points. William “Chewy” Johnson and Enoch Davis each had 13 for the Aggies.

“I think we sort of went with the flow of the game, and that helped,” Overton said. “I know I didn’t try to do anything I didn’t feel I could do.”

The Titans (6-15, 5-8 in conference) had 28 turnovers, but Hawking said he thought his team was able to capitalize on the transition game. “We had a lot of turnovers, but we created some scoring chances with easy opportunities off the fast break,” he said. “And we’ve not been a fast-breaking team this season.”

The Titans made five of six free throws, three by Dade and two by Thomas, in the final minute after Overton scored on a fast break layup that put Fullerton ahead, 63-55, with 1 minute 24 seconds remaining.

New Mexico State (8-14, 5-9) shot only 38% from the field.

“You have to give them credit,” Aggie Coach Neil McCarthy said. “We had the same number of field goals (22), and we did all right at the free-throw line (15 of 19), but they killed us on the boards. Even in the pregame, everyone was just sitting there, showing no emotion.

“Obviously, we have trouble dealing with Williams. He goes after it tough, and gets physical. They were aggressive, and it paid off for them.”

Fullerton built a 12-7 lead behind the inside play of Williams and Overton, who combined for 22 points in the first half. The Aggies made only three of their first 12 shots from the field, but tied the score, 16-16, and led briefly, 25-24.

The Titans responded immediately. Dade made a three-pointer after two Williams free throws. Fullerton took a nine-point lead before the Aggies cut the margin to 35-29 at halftime on a three-point basket by Keith Torian.

Fullerton went up by 12 early in the second half with strong inside play and Dade’s fast-break layup off a steal by Ali Nayab, but the Aggies stayed close. The Titans led, 59-51, with slightly less than five minutes left. The Aggies had a chance to cut the lead to four points with less than two minutes to play, but turned the ball over, and Overton’s fast-break layup gave the Titans the upper hand.

Fullerton held on with free throws down the stretch.

Titan Notes

Freshman Mark Richardson didn’t make the trip because of the broken finger he sustained in Saturday’s game at UC Irvine. “He might be out for the season if they can’t come up with anything that will protect it to the extent it needs to be protected for him to be cleared to play,” Coach Bob Hawking said. Richardson has been a part-time starter this season at center, averaging 4.7 points . . . Sophomore guard Chris St. Clair, who played the first five games before deciding to sit out the rest of the season and seek a medical redshirt year, is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery today to repair cartilage on his previously injured left knee.