Taking it One Game at a Time

Cal State Fullerton's men's basketball team has returned from a three-game road trip and is set to play at the Titan Gym for the first time in over two weeks.

The Titans (4-1) will host the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners Saturday in the two teams' second meeting of the young season.

The Roadrunners (2-4) are looking to avenge a 67-63 loss to CSUF.

Fullerton's victory over the Roadrunners was the first of a three-game road trip.

The Titans finished the trip 2-1 with a victory over Louisiana-Lafayette and a 110-100 loss to Eastern Washington.

"Without three star players, that was an incredible win for us," Titan Head Coach Bob Burton said of the Thursday game. "We started off with a great win and I'm proud of their efforts."

The Titans were without Bobby Brown, Scott Cutley, Frank Robinson and Curtis Battles, who served the last of their three-game suspension for violating a minor NCAA rule involving the misuse of book vouchers.

Titan center Justin Burns had 16 points and 11 rebounds against San Antonio while guard Marcus Crenshaw had a team-high 20 points.

The Titans overcame a 40-27 first-half deficit and outscored the Roadrunners 40-23 in the second half to secure the close victory.

Burns was named the Big West Conference Player of the Week Monday as he averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2 blocks in the two road wins over Texas-San Antonio and Louisiana-Lafayette.

Fullerton's 91-89 overtime victory over the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns gave the team a 4-0 record for the first time since 1989. It also marked the first game Brown, Cutley and Robinson played in this season. Cutley made his Titan debut with a team-high 31 points and 11 rebounds.

Burton was pleased to have three of his best players on the court, but said that they still need to get into game shape.

The players practiced with the team during their suspension prior to returning to compete.

"We can run all we want in practice, but in the game it's a whole different thing," he said. "It takes a while for the whole team to get on the same page together."

The road trip also saw Fullerton fall for the first time this season as they lost a shootout against the Eastern Washington Eagles Monday. Both teams poured in the points as the Eagles had six players score in double figures while the Titans had five.

"That was a nice team," Burton said. "Our guys really hit a wall."

With a long road trip behind them and a rematch with Texas-San Antonio right in front of them, the Titans' biggest challenge awaits them as they will face the NCAA powerhouse UCLA Bruins on Dec. 2 at the Pauley Pavilion.

When asked about playing the No. 1 team in the country, Burton said he is more focused on the next game on the team's schedule against Texas-San Antonio.

"I'm a huge one-game-at-a-time guy," Burton said. "We've got to put all our energy into the next one and just focus on the next game."