Saxon, Utah State Repel Fullerton

Cal State Fullerton made a run at an upset of Utah State in the Big West Conference basketball tournament semifinals Saturday, but the Titans didn’t have the firepower to pull it off.

Guard Marcus Saxon’s 31-point performance lifted the Eastern Division champion Aggies to a 65-56 victory over the Titans, who were doomed by their 37.3% shooting from the field.

“It was too much Marcus Saxon for us,” Titan Coach Bob Hawking said. “It was a big-time performance by one of the best guards on the West Coast. He took over the game in the final four minutes.”

While the Aggies (24-7) move on to today’s title game against Pacific, which defeated Nevada, 67-62, to improve its record to 23-8.

Fullerton ended its season at 12-16 with Hawking’s future uncertain. Hawking is in the last year of a three-year contract that expires March 30.

“I want to be back,” Hawking said. “I’ve given this a tremendous effort. We’re moving forward. We’re continuing to pursue the recruits that we’re involved with. It’s been a good year the way we’ve improved.”

Athletic Director John Easterbrook has said for several weeks that Hawking’s status would be reviewed at the end of the season and declined further comment after the game.

The Titans, who turned in a strong effort in defeating Boise State on Friday and won their first tournament game since 1990, were within a point of the Aggies with fewer than six minutes to play before Saxon took control.

Saxon made two consecutive three-point shots, one with a second left on the shot clock, to turn back that challenge and push Utah State’s lead to 59-52 with slightly more than 3 1/2 minutes left.

Fullerton trailed by only five points with slightly more than two minutes to play after Chris Dade broke through for a layup, but Saxon again hit a three-pointer to keep Fullerton at bay.

Dade struggled with his shooting in his final game as a four-year starter. He made only two of 12 shots from the field and six of 10 free throws to finish with 10 points, but still wound up third among Fullerton’s career scorers.

Guard Chris St. Clair and forward Ike Harmon each had 13 points to lead the Titans.

“Unfortunately, in his last game, he didn’t shoot the ball well,” Hawking said of Dade. “But he’s a warrior. We’ll take him in the fox hole anytime. He’s consistently guarded the other team’s top perimeter shooter throughout his career.”

Fullerton made a strategic decision to try to clog up the middle and attempt to blunt Saxon’s strong driving to the basket, with Dade as chief defender. “We were trying to take away his penetration, and he showed what kind of shooter he is,” Hawking said. “He decided to create for himself.”

Saxon made 12 of 15 shots from the field and was five of six on three-point attempts. He scored 15 of Utah State’s 17 points during one run in the first half when the Aggies led by as many as 14 points.

While Utah State Coach Larry Eustachy was generally disappointed with his team’s play, particularly the 18 turnovers, he gave some of the credit for that to the Titans. “We didn’t match their determination,” he said.

The disparity in shooting was the difference. Utah State shot 54.5%, thanks mainly to Saxon.

“You have to shoot better than 19 of 51 to win a semifinal game in the Big West tournament,” Hawking said.

It was Fullerton’s 10th consecutive loss to the Aggies.