FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State men's basketball team earned its second straight victory with a 65-56 win over the CSUN Matadors on Wednesday night at the Save Mart Center.Fresno State (3-5) dug in defensively – especially in the second half – and Donavan Yap shot his way to a career-high 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting, including a career-best 5-for-7 clip on 3-pointers.
Jemarl Baker added 16 points for the Bulldogs, who also got 10 points from Isaiah Hill and another near double-double (nine points/10 rebounds) from Isaih Moore.
How It Happened
Opening the game on a 6-0 run, the 'Dogs took an early 10-3 lead after a pair of free throws by Moore. The Matadors answered back with a 6-0 run of their own to cut the 'Dogs lead back down to one and proceeded to go on an 11-5 run to take a 20-15 lead.
An 8-0 run by the 'Dogs, capped by a three-pointer from Baker, put Fresno State up three at 23-20. CSUN kept chipping away at the Bulldogs' lead, going on a 10-4 run to track down a 30-27 lead. A pair of free throws by Baker near the end of the first half closed the scoring with the Matadors up 30-29 at the break.
The Bulldogs took a quick lead out of the break on a jumper by Hill, but an 8-0 run by CSUN put the Matadors up seven. The 'Dogs countered back with an 8-0 of their own for a 39-38 lead and after a jumper by CSUN, a 3-pointer and layup from Yap put the Bulldogs up four and they would not give back the lead the remainder of the contest.
A three-pointer from Baker put the 'Dogs up five at 49-44 with 8:36 to play. After CSUN cut the Bulldogs' lead back down to two at 53-51, a 7-0 run by Fresno State featured a field goal by Baker and a three-pointer from Yap, followed by a pair of free throws from Eduardo Andre to extend the 'Dogs advantage to the final margin of nine.
Quotes
Justin Hutson, Fresno State head coach
On the team's overall performance.
"I thought we played really good defense and got a lot of stops. I was proud of how hard they continued to play, and we just stuck with it and grinded it out and got a win."
Donavan Yap, Fresno State junior guard
On his approach…
"I try to stay at an optimal level. I try not to be too high or too low, trying to keep my cool (out there). My confidence level came straight from my teammates and my coaches just playing out there."
Notes:
Fresno State now leads the all-time series with CSUN 30-6 (overall), which includes a 20-3 record in games played in Fresno.
Fresno State has now won six of its last seven meetings with CSUN (5-0 home record at the Save Mart Center).
Fresno State has not been outrebounded by its opponent in each of its last four games (153-125).
Fresno State's defense has now held its last 20 regular season opponents to fewer than 70 points.
Fresno State has now limited 12 straight nonconference opponents in regular season games, including every game this season, to fewer than 70 points.
Fresno State has now limited its opponents to fewer than 70 points in 38 of its last 44 games, including every game this season.
Fresno State improved to 27-3 when allowing under 60 points in head coach Justin Hutson's tenure (since the start of the 2018-19 season).
Fresno State's bench outscored CSUN's reserves 23-2.
In the second half, Fresno State held CSUN to just 33.3 percent from the field, including 1-for-8 on 3-point goals (12.5 percent).
Donavan Yap scored a career-high 17 points, which included a career-best five 3-pointers (6-for-8 FG, 5-for-7 3FG).
Jemarl Baker has now recorded 15 straight assists without committing a turnover (four game stretch).
Up next
The 'Dogs head out on the road on Saturday to take on Pacific (3-7) at 2 p.m. PT from the Alex G. Spanos Center.