Revenge Helps Titans Stay Alive

Cal State Fullerton’s Big West men’s basketball tournament drought is over.

The Titans won their first game in the postseason playoffs since 1990 Friday with a 89-82 victory over Boise State, a team that had left the Titans drained of confidence after a two-point victory in Titan Gym in mid-January.

The victory advances Fullerton (12-15) into today’s semifinal round at 5 p.m. against Utah State (23-7), the Eastern Division champion.

“This was somewhat of a revenge game for us,” Titan Coach Bob Hawking said. “We got beat at the buzzer at our place, so to have a second chance was great.”

The earlier loss to Boise State was Fullerton’s third by three or fewer points in four games. “About five or six weeks ago, I’m not sure some people would have predicted that we’d even be here,” Hawking said. “But our players didn’t quit.”

The Titans turned the tables on the Broncos (17-13) in the rematch in front of 2,147 in Lawlor Center by shooting 53.2% from the field--including a school-record 78% from three-point range--and playing an attacking man-to-man defense that devastated Boise State in the first half.

“Fullerton really came after us,” Boise State forward Mike Tolman said. “When they come at you like that and you don’t accept the challenge, that’s what happens.” Tolman scored 33 points and had 16 rebounds, both career highs, and guard Roberto Bergersen had 23 points, but it wasn’t enough.

The Broncos shot only 29% in the first half, and Fullerton led by 14 points at halftime. Boise State made a run in the second half, cutting the lead to five points with 9 minutes 58 seconds left, but couldn’t catch up.

Ike Harmon had a fast-break layup off a steal, and Craig Whitehead scored seven consecutive points, capped by a three-point shot that pushed Fullerton’s lead to 14 points at 69-55 with slightly more than five minutes remaining.

“I don’t know what came over me,” Whitehead said. “I just stepped up.”

“A lot of players did,” said guard Kenroy Jarrett.

The Titans had five players scoring in double figures, led by Chris Dade’s 19 points. Whitehead was six of seven from the field and finished with 14.

Harmon, who has had trouble at times on free throws this season and was shooting 52%, made nine of 11 at the line and had 15 points to go with 11 rebounds. Guard Chris St. Clair was two for two on three-pointers, and four of four on free throws for 12. Forward Mark Richardson had 11.

“That was a career game for Whitehead,” Hawking said. “He contributed on defense as well as offense. It was a good win for our seniors--Whitehead, Dade and St. Clair.”

Dade sat out almost seven minutes after picking up his fourth foul midway through the second half. He returned with 3 1/2 minutes to play and helped the Titans weather Boise State’s final challenge.

Dade and Harmon shared most of the defensive duty against Bergersen, who was limited to four points in the first half. Bergersen, who had the game-winning shot in the earlier game against Fullerton, was one of five from the field in the first half and nine of 21 for the game.

“We did a great job defensively, even though they started bombing in some three-point shots in the last three minutes,” Hawking said. “But a few of them were after the game was decided.”

Boise State made 10 of 20 three-pointers in the second half and 14 for the game.

“Fullerton’s aggressive defense put us on our heels,” Boise State Coach Rod Jensen said. “They fought through our screens in the first half.”

Hawking said that was a big part of Fullerton’s game plan.

“One of the things we wrote on the board before the game was that we do not accept screens,” Hawking said.

Hawking said the Titans went to a zone at times in the second half to reduce the chance of fouls.

“We’re a better team now than when we played [Boise State] the first time,” Hawking said. “We were playing well at times then but still losing. That hurt our confidence for a while.”

The Titans face a big challenge today against Utah State and their top player Marcus Saxon, but Hawking isn’t conceding anything to the Aggies despite Utah State’s 69-44 victory in Logan in early February.

“We feel we’re competitive with anyone in this conference now,” Hawking said.