Wyoming Stops CS Fullerton, 69-51

CASPER, Wyo. â€”  On the roads around Casper, highway warning signs picture a horseman, complete with ten-gallon hat. The message, presumably, is: Watch for Cowboys.

Cal State Fullerton understands what that means after a 69-51 loss to Wyoming on Saturday night in the championship game of the Cowboy Shootout, played in front of 6,319 in the Casper Events Center.

The Titans trailed by as many as 21 points in the first half and by 27 in the second, never cutting the lead to single-digits.

Fullerton might have done well to watch out for itself. The Titans shot terribly in the first half, making only eight of 30 from the field (26.7%), scoring only 20 points, a season low. Their final total was a season low as well, far below their 81-point average.

The Titans (6-3) made only two of their first 10 shots, and didn’t score until Cedric Ceballos dunked with four minutes gone, finishing off a fast break started on a steal by Wayne Williams.

Fullerton had more problems on offense than just a poor shooting touch. The Titans repeatedly turned the ball over, many of the mistakes unforced.

Fullerton ruined a two-on-one fast-break opportunity when Mark Hill walked. Hill lost the ball on another walking call and another time when he stepped on the sideline.

And on one of the sloppier Fullerton turnovers, David Moody tried to force a pass to Ceballos but instead simply pushed the ball into the hands of a Cowboy player, starting a fast break that ended in a dunk by Travis Butler that gave Wyoming a 32-11 lead with 4:15 yet to play in the first half.

With Tim Breaux hitting from outside and Quein Higgins inside, Wyoming pulled away.

Fullerton was able to trim the lead a bit by halftime, with Hill hitting a three-pointer--his first in 11 tries over the past two games--just before the buzzer to cut the lead to 34-20.

Reggie Slater led Wyoming with 18 points. Hill scored 19 and Ceballos had 18 for Fullerton.

Fullerton lost for the third time in four games. The Titans were 5-0 before being beaten by 29 points at Colorado State. Fullerton lost by 12 to UCLA before winning against Middle Tennessee State Friday.

More bad news may await the Titans, who travel to play Nevada Las Vegas on Wednesday and play at Utah State on Saturday.