First Victory Gives Caldwell Much More Positive Outlook

The Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball team ended its season-opening four-game losing streak with an 82-71 victory over Loyola Marymount Saturday night, and center Matt Caldwell hopes it will lead to a turnaround for the Titans.

“Hopefully, it will be a big step forward for us,” Caldwell said. “Losing four games in a row had been really hard for us. It causes you to get down on yourself, and you start to question everything. We needed a game like that.”

Caldwell wasn’t expected to play against the Lions because of a sprained ankle, but he had 14 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes.

Caldwell said the team received good efforts from several players in the game.

“We really missed having exhibition games,” Caldwell said. “Against Loyola, we were all running the offense the way we should be running it. Before, I think we were feeling the pressure of trying to score every time we touched the ball. This time we let things develop on the court a lot better, and took advantage of things.”

Caldwell said he expects his ankle to be better when the Titans play at Pepperdine tonight. “My ankle is still very sore, but I’m feeling a lot better knowing that I helped the team win,” Caldwell said.

STUCK IN TEXAS

UC Irvine forward Adam Stetson remains at his parents’ home in Colleyville, Tex., unable to fly back to Irvine because of a collapsed lung. He will undergo X-rays Wednesday to see if the lung has completely reinflated.

Stetson suffered the collapsed lung when the Anteaters were in Oklahoma playing in the Sooner Holiday Classic.

“There is still a little air trapped between the lung and the casing around the lung so I have been advised not to fly,” said Stetson, a 6-foot-7 senior.

Stetson said one doctor has recommended that he have another surgery to prevent the lung from collapsing again. Stetson said he will not have the procedure at this time.

“The chances of having another collapsed lung go up every time you have one,” Stetson said. “But this is the first time for me, so I may never have another one. There is no point in getting the surgery. If it happens, then I will have to do it.”

When Stetson does return, he will likely not play for at least three more weeks. He lost 10 pounds during his six days in the hospital. In the meantime, he listens to Irvine’s games over the Internet.

A LITTLE EXTRA

There is more to Irvine guard Shannon Anders now than stand-and-shoot, which seemed to be her role the last three seasons.

Anders, a deadly three-point shooter, this season is scorching opposing teams with moves she rarely displayed before. She is creating offensive opportunities off the dribble and venturing inside the three-point line more often.

“We have always talked to her about being more aggressive,” Coach Mark Adams said. “Now she is trying to be more than a spot-up shooter.”

Anders, who entered the season fifth on Irvine’s all-time list for three-pointers, had 22 points in a 68-46 victory over Oregon State Friday, one off her career high. She got some of her points on drives to the basket.

Her more aggressive play also has her on the free- throw line more often, which is a good thing for the Anteaters. She was a career .82% free-throw shooter before this season, but has averaged only 33 free throws a season. Anders already made 26 of 30 from the foul line this season.

She also had five rebounds and four assists against Oregon State. Anders is second on the team, averaging 11 points. It has helped take some of the offensive load off point guard Megan Stafford and center Chelsea Mackey.

“There is going to be a lot of defensive pressure on Megan and Chelsea,” Anders said. “I realize that I’m a senior and I had to be the one to step it up.”

BLANKMAN

Zamiro Bennem, a guard on the Irvine men’s team, ran around his dorm one night last year wearing goggles and a towel over his shoulders and yelling, “I’m Blankman.” Now he shows those powers on the court.

Bennem scored only four points in a 67-59 victory over St. Mary’s Saturday, but his performance was more impressive when you factor in the points he prevented.

Bennem smothered St. Mary’s guard Frank Allocco. He had three steals, one of which he turned into a basket that cut a St. Mary’s lead to 31-30 just before halftime.

He also blocked four shots.

Bennem’s play has been consistent at both ends. He is averaging only 10 points, but usually comes up with a big basket.

It is a stark contrast to a year ago, when he showed flashes of ability but little savvy.

“He put in six or seven hours a day last summer, but he was still the 11th man on a 11-man team when the season started,” Coach Pat Douglass said. “I told him what was keeping him from getting playing time and he went out ant did what he needed to do.”

That involved mostly getting in sync with the offense. Bennem’s one-on-one skills were effective at times last season, when he averaged six points. He had 14 points in a victory over BYU.

Bennem, though, was overtly left-handed and had difficulty going to his right.

“Coach told me what I had to do after last season,” Bennem said. “I wrote it down and put it in my secret place. I would look at it everyday.

“It was mostly about knowing the ins and outs of the offense. But defense was the No. 1 priority.”

Staff writer Chris Foster contributed to this story.