Fullerton Surprises Brigham Young, 75-67

Brigham Young hasn’t lost many basketball games in the Marriott Center: only 10 in their last 82 home games and only 14 in the last seven years.

And Cal State Fullerton? Well, the Titans won only 13 games over the last two years, no matter where they played.

But things change.

After two years of frustration, the Titans showed signs that they might actually be the “breakthrough team” Coach Bob Hawking has been waiting to see with a 75-67 victory over the Cougars in Friday night’s season opener for both teams.

“Obviously, this is a difficult place to win, and it’s especially tough when your program hasn’t been that successful and you’re trying to put down a foundation,” Hawking said.

The Titans built a 15-point lead at halftime, then held off a second-half charge by the Cougars. The crowd of 7,530 didn’t seem to take the Titan threat seriously until the second half.

The Cougars managed to pull within a point, 61-60, before guard Chris St. Clair connected for a three-point basket with 4:33 remaining to turn back the challenge. The Titans held on with solid free throw shooting down the stretch.

Chris Dade, a two-year starter at guard, made six of six free throws in the last three minutes, and Craig Whitehead was two for two. Dade had a team-leading 18 points.

Hawking was especially pleased for St. Clair.

“That was a big shot he made,” Hawking said. “He just got his left hand out of the cast on Monday, and we really didn’t know what his status would be.”

St. Clair missed most of last season because of a knee injury, then broke a bone in his left hand in the preseason.