BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A decisive disparity on the glass (51-27) and an injury to point guard Zaon Collins were too much for Fresno State to overcome on Saturday night at the Icardo Center as the Bulldogs fell to CSU Bakersfield 74-58.
Collins, who ended the night as the team's leading scorer with 12 points, left the game with 14 minutes remaining in the second half with a lower leg injury. Against an aggressive Roadrunner defense, the Bulldogs found space for shots hard to come by without their floor general, scoring just 13 points after he left.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSU Bakersfield jumped out to a 7-1 lead just two minutes into the game. The Bulldogs pulled right back before the opening media timeout with the help of Elijah Price getting four points off the offensive glass.
The game remained tight throughout the first half as Price continued to control the paint, putting up nine points in the first 11 minutes. Fresno State grabbed its largest lead of the half at three with 8:49 on the clock after Zaon Collins found Amar Augillard on the break with a full-court pass that Augillard finished through with contact.
Following the under-four media timeout, the Roadrunners went on a 9-0 spurt to take their largest lead thus far at 38-31 with just over a minute remaining. Fresno State went into the locker room trailing 39-33.
Collins got the 'Dogs going to start the second half, scoring five on back-to-back possessions before dishing out a corner 3 to Jalen Weaver with 17:12 on the clock. CSUB answered right back with seven straight to retake the lead at 45-41.
With under 15 minutes to play, the game took a turn for the Bulldogs when Collins hopped off the court unable to put weight on his left leg. CSUB proceeded to go on a 9-0 run to go up 54-43 with 10:57 on the clock.
Following Collins' injury, Fresno State was outscored 27-13 during the final 14 minutes of the game.
NOTES
Fresno State was outrebounded 51-27. It was the largest disparity for the Bulldogs since being outrebounded by 25 against UTSA on Nov. 11, 2016.
A 19-7 difference on the offensive glass resulted in a 25-10 difference in second-chance points.
Fresno State shot just 2-of-16 from the 3-point line (12.5%).
In 24 minutes, Zaon Collins led the Bulldogs in scoring with 12 points, along with grabbing five rebounds.
Elijah Price scored 11 points and led the 'Dogs in rebounds (7), assists (2), blocks (3) and steals (2).
UP NEXT
Fresno State returns home on Wednesday to host Prairie View A&M, its first contest of the Acrisure Holiday Invitational. Tipoff at the Save Mart Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.