LOGAN, Utah – Pulling within four just over three minutes into the second half, Fresno State was outscored 42-25 the remainder of the game by No. 16 Utah State in an 83-62 defeat on Saturday afternoon at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
Isaiah Pope led the Bulldogs with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, 3-of-7 from deep. Isaiah Hill matched his career high in assists with 10 to 0 turnovers. The Aggies were led by Great Osobor's 20-point, 12-rebound effort.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A slow start after scoring the opening bucket, Fresno State climbed back with a stretch of four straight made shots. A floater in the lane from Donavan Yap Jr. at 11:43 leveled the game at 14-all.
Utah State answered with a four-point play from Ian Martinez that started a 12-3 stretch in less than four minutes. A triple from Mason Falslev forced the Bulldogs to call a timeout with 8:13 on the clock, trailing 26-17.
Shooting 55.6 percent in the opening 20 minutes, the Aggies grew their advantage to 13 at the half at 40-27. Fresno State shot 42.3 percent.
The Bulldogs came out of the locker room with a 10-1 run with triples from Xavier DuSell and Yap Jr. and a pair of buckets from Isaiah Pope. The hot start simmered as the four-point deficit was the closest the 'Dogs would get.
After a 3-pointer from Hill made it an 11-point game with 8:28, Utah State went on a 17-4 run over the next five-and-a-half minutes to go up 77-53 and take its largest lead of the game.
NOTES
Assistant Coach Keith Brown served his second straight game as Fresno State's acting head coach with Head Coach Justin Hutson out with an illness.
Fresno State moved to 0-3 on the year against Top 25 opponents.
The Bulldogs dropped their third consecutive game in Logan, Utah. They are 8-26 all-time there.
Fresno State allowed its second-highest field goal percentage of the year (55.0%).
Fresno State was outrebounded 40-25, its largest margin of the season.
With 16 points, Isaiah Pope reached double figures in scoring for the fourth straight game.
Pope led the 'Dogs in scoring for the fifth time this season.
With 12 points, Donavan Yap Jr. was in double figures for the third straight game.
Eduardo Andre scored 11 points, his sixth game of the year in double figures.
Isaiah Hill matched his career high in assists with 10. The senior has not recorded a turnover in his last two games. (19-0 ratio).
Hill also matched his season high in steals with three.
UP NEXT
Fresno State returns home for a pair of games next week at the Save Mart Center. The 'Dogs will start with Boise State on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. PT. The game will air on FS1.