Fullerton Starts Fast and Wins With Ease

For Cal State Fullerton, it was like a day at the beach compared to a week ago.

The Titans were manhandled by 28 points by 16th-ranked Utah in their season opener at Salt Lake City, but their first game at Fullerton Saturday night was a different story.

This time Fullerton was in charge all the way, and Norfolk State, playing its first season in Division I, was the team overmatched. The Titans scored 11 consecutive points in the first three minutes and went on to an 83-57 victory in front of 1,004 at Titan Gym.

Fullerton had a 15-point lead seven minutes into the first half and led, 44-28, at halftime.

The Titans shot 54.8% from the field in the first half and finished at 45.9%. Guards Chris Dade and Chris St. Clair, a combined seven for 25 against Utah, were 11 for 21 against the Spartans.

Dade finished with a game-high 24 points, doing most of the damage on fast-break baskets. St. Clair was three for six on three-point shots and Dade was two for four. St. Clair finished with 13 points.

“It was a lot more fun out there tonight,” St. Clair said. “We got some open looks as a team, and that didn’t happen last week. I don’t think I got one open look the whole game against Utah.”

The Titans also had 47-34 rebounding advantage.

Titan sophomore Ike Harmon, who scored 10 points, missed the final 16 minutes with what was believed to be a slight concussion when he was accidentally hit in the mouth by an elbow.

“They’ll give him some further tests in the hospital, but we’re fairly sure that it’s not anything serious,” Coach Bob Hawking said.

Norfolk State shot only 39.3% from the field, but that was the Spartans’ best effort in three losses.

Even though Norfolk State has been struggling offensively, Hawking thought his team turned in a solid effort on defense.

“That was the key to the game,” Hawking said. “We were aggressive going after the ball, and that needs to be the trademark of this team. We’re going to need 40 minutes of great-effort defense.”

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Kansas State 89, Long Beach State 50--Josh Reid scored 14 points as the Wildcats played stifling defense and dominated the rebounding at Manhattan, Kan.

Aaron Swartzendruber added 13 points as Kansas State (2-0) started the game with a 31-6 run, getting its first five field goals on three-point shots.

The Wildcats led, 45-17, at halftime.

Long Beach State (1-1) shot only 29% for the game and was outrebounded, 45-25. The 49ers shot only 17% in the first half, missing 19 of 23 shots, to set a Bramlage Coliseum record.

Thirty-two of Kansas State’s rebounds came after missed Long Beach State shots.

Kansas State shot 53% from the field, including 41% from beyond the three-point line.

David Egans scored 17 points and Antrone Lee had 16 for Long Beach State.

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UC Santa Barbara 88, Westmont 74--Raymond Tutt scored 25 points and had five rebounds to lead the Gauchos to victory at Goleta, Calif.

Kealon Wallace added 16 points and seven rebounds for Santa Barbara in its season opener.

Leslie Bean had nine assists for the winners.

Westmont (1-1) was led by Brian Gomes with 17 points and five rebounds. Ken Knabke added 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.