Williams Enjoys Titans’ Efforts Without Him

IRVINE — John Williams was a restless bench warmer before the game. In fact, he wasn’t even on the bench. Cal State Fullerton’s leading scorer and rebounder was sitting a few feet behind it in the first row at the Bren Center for Saturday night’s game against UC Irvine because of an injured right wrist.

Williams joined his teammates briefly in the pregame huddle, but then went back to the grandstand to watch the first half. “I really wanted to play in this game, especially with it being against Irvine,” Williams said before the game. “But I think we can win without me.”

Williams was right.

The Titans scored 14 consecutive points and went on to a 13-point halftime lead. By then, Williams was not quite so restless, or anxious, and he enjoyed the second half of the 89-57 Titan rout from the far end of the bench next to another injured starting forward, Craig Whitehead.

Whitehead was in uniform but missed his second consecutive game because of a groin pull.

Williams, averaging 21.9 points in the last nine games and 17.6 this season, was injured in the second half of Thursday’s loss to Utah State.

“I slipped on a water spot, and I fell on my wrist trying to keep from landing on my hip,” Williams said. “I didn’t think it was that bad that night, but when I woke up the next morning it was really sore.

“I still thought I might have a chance to play, but then it hurt when I tried to snap my wrist. At least, we don’t play again now until Thursday, so I hope I can be ready then.”

Fullerton (10-6 and 3-3 in the Big West) plays at Idaho Thursday and Boise State Saturday.

Titan Coach Bob Hawking said he was concerned going about playing without two starters, even if it was against a team that has won only once this season in 15 games.

“That was scary,” Hawking said, “but it was great to see our guys coming off the bench step up.”

Sophomore Mark Richardson started in place of Williams at power forward, and Hawking went with three guards--Chris Dade, Chris St. Clair and Ali Nayab--in the starting lineup, as he had against Utah State. But this time the results were much better.

Dade led the Titans with 18 points and St. Clair had 14, but the difference was that Richardson and reserves Dane Plock, Dirk Rassloff and Josh Leighton each scored 10.

“I thought Rassloff and Leighton played well tonight, and Plock has played well for us all year,” Hawking said. “You’ve got to have players who can contribute whether they’re starting or not. I’m pleased that they did.”

Williams said he hopes the victory will be a boost to the team’s confidence.

“I think it was good for them to see that they can do it without me,” Williams said. “But it turned out to be more one-sided than I thought it would be.”

Williams was asked why he decided to sit on the bench with the team in the second half.

“I wanted to be where I could remind them to not let down,” Williams said, smiling. “I wanted to make sure they kept that big lead.”