SANTA BARBARA, Calif – Trailing by 17 with less than five minutes to play, Fresno State put together a furious late come back before running out of time on Wednesday night at UCSB, falling 91-86 at The Thunderdome.
Amar Augillard led the Bulldogs in scoring for the second straight game, recording all 21 of his points in the second half. Mykell Robinson poured in 16 points and Zaon Collins added 15.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UCSB jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead using the 3-point line. Elijah Price answered back with a triple of his own to start a 7-0 spurt that gave the 'Dogs their first lead of the game at 9-8.
The Gauchos answered right back with a 3 and held the lead until Mykel Robinson knocked one down of his own to give the 'Dogs a 14-12 lead. Fresno State only led for 30 seconds during the final 14 minutes of the half as UCSB maintained a slim advantage throughout.
With UCSB extending its lead to 45-36 early in the second half, Jalen Weaver responded with a triple from the wing. The Gauchos answered with one of their own but Weaver came right back with another. The senior though was assessed a technical following the shot, his second in a 60-second period which sent him to the locker room. The Gauchos extended their advantage up to 10 less than a minute later.
In a back-and-forth half first seven minutes, the Bulldogs hit a 7-0 stretch to pull back to 57-53 with 13:03 on the clock. UCSB answered with 11 of the next 14 points to push its advantage back up 12.
Trailing by 17 with just under five minutes to play, Fresno State turned up its defensive pressure and began to find its offense.
Stephan Swenson's bucket at 4:46 on the clock was the last for the Gauchos. The Bulldogs in turn connected on eight of their next 10 shot attempts. Starting that was a 9-0 run that brought the 'Dogs back within eight, but a foul and subsequent technical foul with 1:46 to play on Zaon Collins put Deuce Turner at the line for four free throws.
Back down 10, Augillard and Robinson put together a 9-2 spurt to make it an 87-82 game with 31 seconds remaining. Five was as close as the 'Dogs would get as the Gauchos continued to make their free throws down the stretch.
NOTES
Fresno State's 86 points were the third-most points scored by the Bulldogs in the last four seasons.
Fresno State had five players score in double figures.
Fresno State forced 20 turnovers.
Amar Augillard led the Bulldogs in scoring for the second straight game, posting 21 points in 18 minutes. All 21 came in the second half.
Zaon Collins (15) and Mykell Robinson (16) each posted season highs in scoring.
Collins swiped six steals, the most by a player in the Mountain West this season.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will look to bounce back on Saturday at CSU Bakersfield. Tipoff at the Icardo Center is set for 6:30 p.m. PT and will stream on ESPN+.