Fullerton, in Bid to End Slump, Meets Pacific Tonight at Home

Cal State Fullerton’s basketball season has reached a critical stage.

If the Titans, 1-6 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. and 8-8 overall, are to have anything but dignity to play for during the rest of the season, they must snap out of a recent slump that has landed them in last place. This after getting off to a 7-1 start that had them ranked 19th in the nation by United Press International.

They will open a three-game home stand tonight in Titan Gym against the University of the Pacific, the same team that beat them two weeks ago in Stockton to start them on a six-game losing streak.

A sweep of Pacific, Fresno State and San Jose State would put the Titans back in the hunt for a PCAA tournament berth. Two wins would give them some life. Anything less could be costly, considering that Fullerton has five road games remaining, including one at Nevada Las Vegas. The Titans are 5-3 at home and 3-5 on the road.

Pacific is 4-4 and 8-9. Tiger center Brent Counts had a career-high 26 points in a 58-55 victory over Fullerton Jan. 5.