FRESNO, Calif. – Behind a combined 35 points from four new Bulldogs and 17 from Eduard Andre, Fresno State won its season opener 77-66 over Fresno Pacific on Monday night in a crosstown clash at the Save Mart Center. The Bulldogs' offense was aided by a defense that forced 17 turnovers, cashing them in for 22 points, with the bulk of those coming in transition.
Xavier DuSell finished the game with a team-high 19 points, knocking down four 3-pointers and going a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. Eduardo Andre was a force inside when the game slowed down, scoring 17 points and pulling down nine rebounds to go with four blocks. Like DuSell, fellow newcomer Jalen Weaver played a big role on the evening with his energy and it turned into 12 points for the junior.
HOW IT HAPPENED
With Fresno State trailing 11-4 just over three minutes into the game, the Bulldogs got a spark from its newcomers with energy coming from Jalen Weaver and Isaac Taveras as the 'Dogs climbed back to level at 14-14 with 8:22 on the clock.
Then Xavier DuSell caught fire pouring in 11 of the Bulldogs' next 13 points in a 13-2 run in just over two minutes to put the 'Dogs up 27-20. The senior transfer went 3-of-4 from deep in the stretch.
Fresno State extended its lead to nine at halftime, leading 33-24 at the break, a 16-point swing over the last 16 minutes.
The lead was pushed up to 13 less than three minutes into the second half with a 6-0 spurt, capped by a steal from DuSell at one end and a two-handed dunk by Weaver in transition. The Sunbirds though responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to start an 11-2 run to cut the Bulldogs' advantage to four.
With the game at 62-58 with 4:17 remaining, Isaiah Hill came off a screen on the wing and dropped in a triple. The 'Dogs forced a turnover on the Sunbirds' next possession and Leo Colimerio took advantage with an and-one.
FPU pulled back to within four with 1:40 left but the Sunbirds fouled DuSell on a 3-point attempt with 71 seconds on the clock. After a timeout by the 'Dogs a steal by DuSell led to a dunk by Weaver on the break that put the game out of reach.
NOTES
Fresno State won its 12th straight home opener dating back to the program's first year in the Mountain West.
The Bulldogs are 83-19 all-time in home openers and 76-26 all-time in season openers.
Fresno State has won 33 consecutive games against non-D-I opponents.
Fresno State held a 22-8 advantage in points off turnovers and had a 15-4 edge on fast breaks.
Five Bulldogs made their debut on Monday night--Enoch Boakye, Xavier DuSell, Isaiah Pope, Jalen Weaver, Isaac Taveras.
Boakye and DuSell made their first career starts for Fresno State.
DuSell began his Bulldog career with 19 points to go along with four steals.
In his debut, Weaver was in double figures with 12 points.
Eduardo Andre scored at least 15 points for the fifth time as a Bulldog, totaling 17 on Monday.
The senior center had four blocks on the night, the fourth time he has recorded at least four blocks in a game as a 'Dog.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will travel to Kent State this weekend to face the Golden Flashes on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. The game will stream on ESPN+.