Utah State’s Hot Shots Lead to Fullerton’s Fall

LOGAN, Utah —  Cal State Fullerton’s Big West Conference season began with two road victories, but lately the Titans have been going downhill faster than the Utah State mascot, who rides a plastic snow disk from the top of the Spectrum down the stairs to the court during halftime.

The Titans, losers of nine of their last 11 conference games, dropped their fifth in a row Saturday night as Utah State rolled to a 103-71 victory before 8,157.

Fifty fouls were committed, 28 by Fullerton, which fell to 4-9 in conference and 6-15 overall. Utah State made 31 of 40 free throws, but the Aggies still would have won by a point if they had missed all of them.

“We weren’t able to defend them,” Fullerton Coach Bob Hawking said. “They totally controlled us inside.”

The Aggies (16-4, 10-2) made nine of their first 11 shots, were shooting 70% from the field midway through the second half and finished with a season-high 67.3%. Guard Corwin Woodard and forward Silas Mills combined to make 18 of 22 shots and Woodard would have been a perfect nine for nine had he not missed a three-point shot with three seconds left.

Utah State, which led, 47-38, at halftime, turned the game into a blowout when the Titans made one of their first 16 shots in the second half.

“We came out with one of our typical offensive lulls,” Hawking said.

Titan center Winston Peterson, who had not played or practiced since Monday because of strep throat, played 31 minutes because the Titans had only three healthy post players. DeVaughn Wright returned home after Thursday night’s game at Reno because of recurring intestinal problems.

Peterson led Fullerton with 21 points and eight rebounds.