Fast start fizzles as CSF routed
By SCOTT FRENCH
... Cal State Fullerton probably can't play much better than it did in the first five minutes Wednesday night against Montana, but things can't get any worse than the 15 minutes that followed.
A nearly perfect start, with the Titans bolting to a quick 12-point advantage, turned perfectly horrific in their final tuneup before Big West play begins next week. Montana coasted to a 71-57 triumph, completing a home-and-home sweep in front of 722 at Titan Gym in a game that wasn't nearly so close.
"(Near the) end of the game I looked up, and it was an 11-point game," said Bob Burton, who suffered his 100th loss (against 127 victories) in seven-plus seasons at Fullerton's helm. "It seemed like it was a 30-point game." The Grizzlies (8-4) outscored Fullerton, 35-8, after falling behind, 14-2, at the start. Their 25-4 run to finish the first half turned a 20-10 deficit into an 11-point halftime lead, and the Titans (4-8) never threatened the rest of the way, even after pulling to 10 points back three times.