Titan Talk

Utah State takes their 10 game winning streak to Fullerton tomorrow night. That 10 game winning streak currently has the Aggies tied at 7th for the longest winning streak in the nation. Fullerton is coming off a 74-67 road loss to Irvine.

Last year, the Titans gave the Aggies all they could handle for the most part. USU squeaked by in Logan with a 61-60 victory before going to Fullerton and smacking the fellow Big West team with a 62-41 spanking. The two would meet up for a third meeting in the Big West Tournament 1st round where the talented Titans took Utah State into overtime. The Aggies came away with an 89-83 victory and went on to win the tournament. Two years ago Fullerton embarrassed the Aggies when they hosted a 65-51 win. Utah State currently leads this series 35-16. USU is 10-13 when visiting Titan Gym, which seats 3,500. Cal State Fullerton is lead by Bob Burton who is in his first year as head coach for Titans. Previous head coach Donny Daniels left after last season to be an assistant coach at UCLA. It’s been a rough start for coach Burton. In his first 5 months he has lost 5 players to freak accidents, injury, family sickness, academic suspension and a conviction. Ralphy Holmes was convicted this summer for stealing a car and crashing it on campus. Ralphy was last year’s Big West leading scorer, and is obviously missed. Anthony Bolton is currently on academic probation and his return status is unknown. He has been out the last 3 games. Prior to his suspension he was averaging 32.7 minutes, 11.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Stepping up his game inside is senior Pape Sow. The 6-10 250 lb. center is averaging 32 minutes, 18.7 points (2nd in the Big West) and 9.4 rebounds (1st in the Big West) per game. He scored a season high 33 points in a home loss to Loyola-Marymount. Pape is shooing 56% FG and has scored in double figures in all of his 14 games but 1, in which he scored 9. He has really stepped up his rebounding efforts in the past 3 games pulling down 17 at UCR, 11 at Long Beach and 15 at UCI. This big man isn’t afraid to step outside as well. He has attempted twelve 3 pt FG this season and has connected on 5 of them. That’s good enough for 42 % from behind the arch. His one weakness would be going to the charity stripe where he shoots only 59%. Fullerton’s other source of hope comes from freshman “you can’t touch this” Bobby Brown. The 6-1 190 lb. guard is averaging 32.8 minutes and 13.9 points per game. His assist/turnover ratio stands at 4.0/2.4 per game. Brown scored a season high 27 points in 96-90 road loss to USC. The Titans come into tomorrow night’s game shooting 45% FG, 65% FT and 34% 3pt FG. They average 71.7 ppg and 39.1 rebounds.