On Call, He Answers the Bell for Fullerton

Another page for the Matt Caldwell scrap book. That makes three.

So his moments have been few and far between this season? You can’t say Caldwell isn’t reliable. Once every month, he seems to show up and do some damage.

He arrived on schedule Saturday.

Caldwell, Cal State Fullerton’s 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman, helped turn a close game against UC Irvine into an 85-66 rout Saturday in Titan Gym. He scored 13 points, 10 in a second-half run that buried the Anteaters, using flashy moves, power moves and even a defensive move.

“Caldwell paid us a nice visit tonight,” Coach Bob Hawking said. “He’s been on call all year.”

Maybe he needs a pager. Still, when Caldwell does answer, he delivers.

On Dec. 20, he had 16 points and four rebounds against Portland.

On Jan. 8, he had 15 points and nine rebounds against New Mexico State.

That about ended the Caldwell college highlight reel, until Saturday, when the Titans needed him. Ike Harmon, Fullerton’s second-leading scorer, was in foul trouble almost from the time he laced up his sneakers. He played only seven minutes the entire game. Someone had to fill those shoes.

For five minutes in the second half, Caldwell was a one-man show.

He started with a dunk off a fast break, which gave the Titans a 44-30 lead with 16 minutes 51 seconds left. He scored off an offensive rebound. He scored on another dunk off a turnover. Then came a layup. Then another dunk, giving him 10 points in a 15-7 Titan run.

Caldwell finished by stealing the ball from 6-2 Brian Scoggin and feeding Chris Dade for a layup.

“He had a steal,’ Hawking said, “and he missed a layup.”

Picky, picky, picky. The other six shots Caldwell took went in. By the time he left, Fullerton had a 59-37 lead.

Not bad for a guy who fouled out in seven minutes in his first college game.

“I’m a role player,” Caldwell said. “The opportunity came and I took it. I used to run the floor like that in high school. It’s fun.

“I am happy with whatever I get or whatever I do. Ike was in foul trouble, so we needed someone to step up. It was me tonight.”

Caldwell has waited a year for such opportunities. About all he accomplished last year was getting married. He and is wife are expecting a child next month. So while the courtship was good, the court life has been a bit rocky.

His occasional appearances have been noteworthy, but, in 18 other games, he had scored a total of 36 points.

“It’s been a real learning curve for him,” Hawking said. “It’s the end of his first year of college basketball and he has some experience behind him.”

Who knows, next season Caldwell may visit twice a month.