Short-Handed Titans Manhandle NAIA Foe

Cal State Fullerton didn’t have talented sophomore Ike Harmon in the lineup for Tuesday night’s game against Lewis-Clark State, but the Titans didn’t need him.

Lewis-Clark State needed a few more Titan starters on the sidelines to have kept it from being anything but a runaway.

The Warriors had enough problems trying to handle senior guard Chris Dade. He scored 26 points in 26 minutes, and the Titans coasted to a 86-46 men’s basketball victory in front of 912 in Titan Gym. It was Fullerton’s most decisive victory since winning by 52 points at home against Seattle University in 1985.

Harmon was held out of the game because of a mild concussion he suffered last weekend in a victory over Norfolk State, but is expected back for Saturday’s game against Loyola Marymount.

Lewis-Clark State, an NAIA team from Lewiston, Idaho, was scrappy but overmatched. The Warriors (1-2) stayed within nine points at halftime, 36-27, mainly because Fullerton’s shooting cooled in the four minutes before the break.

But the Titans (2-1) went into high gear quickly in the second half and built their lead to 23 points by outscoring the Warriors 18-4 in the first 4 1/2 minutes. The lead soared to 30 points with nine minutes left, and Coach Bob Hawking had the last of his starters out of the game with eight minutes to go.

“I was pleased that we were able to get a lot of guys in the game for some extended periods, and we got to see a lot of different combinations,” Hawking said. Dade, however, made the most of his opportunity, making 11 of 16 shots from the field, including four of seven from three-point range. His point total was two below his career high.

Hawking also was impressed by Dade’s defensive effort against guard Jared Mercer, who was held to three points, 12 below his average. “Mercer came into the game as their leading shot-taker, and he only gets five shots,” Hawking said. “That’s mainly a result of Dade guarding him.”

Senior Craig Whitehead, who has been competing with Harmon and others for playing time at forward, also turned in a good effort on offense with 17 points in 25 minutes. Whitehead was eight for 12 from the field and had six rebounds.

“Whitehead has been coming along,” Hawking said. “He was fighting a back problem in the preseason. He missed about eight practices, but it looks like he’s starting to round into shape. He had a lot of quality minutes for us last year.”

Jason Cunningham led the non-starters with 12 points in 15 minutes. Dane Plock, who missed preseason practice and the first game because of a suspension for a violation of team rules, had extended playing time for the first time. He played 11 minutes, making two three-point shots in five attempts and finishing with seven points.

The Titans shot 47.3% from the floor, 52.5% in the second half. “I think our talent took over in the second half,” Hawking said. “We turned it up on defense then and created some turnovers. That led to some scoring on the transition game.”

Hawking said he isn’t certain Harmon will be back for the Loyola Marymount game, but Harmon says he’s hopeful. “I had a headache and was a little light-headed for a few days, but I hope I can get back to practice this week,” Harmon said. “I definitely want to play against Loyola. It’s hard to sit out even one game after missing all last season.”

Harmon, from Santa Ana Valley High, missed last season as a Proposition 48 nonqualifier.