FRESNO, Calif. - A five-point lead for the Bulldogs with 39 seconds remaining was quickly reversed by Colorado State down the stretch who handed the Fresno State men's basketball team a tough 60-57 loss on Saturday afternoon at the Save Mart Center before a season-high crowd of 7,137.
Fresno State (9-17, 5-10 Mountain West) held a 57-52 lead, but the final eight points of the contest went to Colorado State (12-15, 4-10 MW), who dealt the Bulldogs their second hard-fought defeat in four days.
The Bulldogs were led in scoring by a career-high 19 points from Leo Colimerio, while Anthony Holland chipped in 14 points and five rebounds.
Isaiah Hill made it three 'Dogs in double figures - finishing with 10 points. Jemarl Baker added five points, six rebounds and dished out a team-high six assists for Fresno State.
How It Happened
With the Rams taking a 27-24 lead into halftime, the 'Dogs came out of the locker room on fire using a 17-3 run to take an 11-point lead after a jumper by Hill.
The Rams answered back with an 11-2 run to cut the Bulldogs lead down to two at 43-41 midway through the second half.
A jumper and three-point play by Colimerio extended the 'Dogs lead to 55-48 with 2:07 to play and the 'Dogs kept a five-point lead with 39 seconds left after a dunk from the junior from Brazil.
Unfortunately, those were the final points of the contest for the Bulldogs, who missed on a pair of free throws and a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer.
Notes
This was Fresno State's ninth straight loss to Colorado State and the Bulldogs are now 6-4 when playing the Rams at the Save Mart Center.
This was just the third time the programs have met at the Save Mart Center in Hutson's five seasons.
This was the first meeting in Fresno between the 'Dogs and the Rams since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leo Colimerio scored a career-high 19 points in the contest.
Through its first 26 games, Fresno State's scholarship players have combined to miss 86 games due a non-coach's decision (i.e. illness, injury, personal/health, etc.).
At halftime, Fresno State honored its basketball alumni, including a special recognition for the 1981-83 teams with representatives from those teams in attendance, including Ron Adams and Rod Higgins, who spoke to the crowd.
Before the game, Fresno State hosted the Red Wave for tailgating at the Save Mart Center for the first time in program history.
Up next
Fresno State heads out on the road on Tuesday traveling to Air Force (14-14, 5-10 MW) for a contest at 6 p.m. PT on the Mountain West Network and the Bulldog Sports Network.