SAN JOSE, Calif. – Led by a season-high 18 points from senior Anthony Holland, the Bulldogs were unable to overcome a short-handed rotation on Tuesday evening and fell 74-64 to the San Jose State Spartans at the Provident Credit Union Events Center before an announced crowd of 2,084.
Three other Bulldogs finished in double figures for Fresno State (6-10, 2-3 Mountain West), who only had eight players available for the game due to injury and illness with only seven healthy bodies able to make it to the end after Isaiah Hill departed the game with an injury six minutes into the second half.
Eduardo Andre came off the bench to record a career-high 15 points adding four rebounds and two steals for the Bulldogs.
Donavan Yap reached double figures for the fourth time this season, chipping in 13 points and five assists and Hill notched 12 points and four assists before his exit from the contest.
San Jose State (12-6, 3-2 MW) also had four players in double figures led by 20 points from Alvaro Cardenas, who added nine assists.
How It Happened
The Bulldogs kept pace with the Spartans in the early going of the first half using a dunk by Isaih Moore to cut the Spartans' lead to two, 23-21, but San Jose State was able to build back to a six-point lead at the break.
A 10-0 run for the Spartans in the early going of the second half broke open a 14-point lead with SJSU ahead 52-38.
With SJSU continuing to lead 60-47, the 'Dogs attempted to battle back going on a 9-0 run to cut a 13-point deficit down to four at 60-56 after a three-pointer by Yap with 5:48 to play.
The Spartans responded with a run of their own using a 7-0 spurt to go back up double digits and the Bulldogs could only get within eight the rest of the way.
Notes
Fresno State now leads its all-time series with San Jose State, 95-78 (overall), which includes wins in 11 of the last 12 meetings (9-1 in head coach Justin Hutson's tenure) and 16 of the last 19 overall. This was SJSU's first win over the Bulldogs since 2017.
Fresno State shot a season-best 52.6 percent (10-for-19) on 3-point field goal attempts.
Fresno State outscored SJSU 16-7 in points off turnovers and the Bulldogs got 28 points from its two reserves (Eduardo Andre – 15, Donavan Yap 13).
Referee Verne Harris left the game with 13:27 to play due to injury. Randy McCall and David Hall finished the game as a two-person crew.
Up next
The 'Dogs return home on Saturday to host Air Force (10-7, 1-3 MW) at 4 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center on CW59/Mountain West Network and the Bulldog Sports Network.