FRESNO, Calif. – Led by four Bulldogs in double figures, the Fresno State men's basketball team knocked off No. 21/22 New Mexico 71-67 on Tuesday evening at the Save Mart Center in front of a season-high 4,868 fans.
Fresno State (6-8, 2-1 MW) was led by 16 points and eight rebounds from Isaih Moore while Isaiah Hill chipped in 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Jemarl Baker scored in double figures for the third game in a row adding 13 points and five assists while Eduardo Andre came off the bench adding 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds and nabbed four steals.
How It Happened
After falling behind the Lobos by four, 15-11, in the early going, the 'Dogs used a 7-0 run to take back a 18-15 lead. A quick 4-0 run for the Lobos put the visitors back up a point, but an alley-oop from Moore and a jumper by Jordan Campbell put the Bulldogs ahead by three, 22-19.
A pair of free throws by New Mexico tied the game at 28 with 3:44 to play in the first half, but the Bulldogs responded with an 8-0 run. UNM scored a quick four points to close out the opening half as the 'Dogs went to the locker room ahead, 36-32.
The Lobos got out to a quick start in the second half going on a 16-7 run to lead 48-43. New Mexico increased its lead to seven at 55-48, but the 'Dogs tied the game at 55 apiece with a 7-0 run capped off by an alley-oop from Hill to Moore.
A pair of free throws by Baker put the 'Dogs back up by one at 63-62, but a three-point play by the Lobos' Jalen House put UNM back up a pair.
Two more throws by the Lobos gave the visitors their final points of the night as the 'Dogs held UNM off the scoreboard over the final 1:58 scoring the final five points of the contest, getting a go-ahead layup from Moore and three free throws from Hill down the stretch to seal the victory.
Notes
Fresno State notched its first win over a Top 25 team since defeating San Diego State 59-57 on Jan. 3. 2015. (Note: The Aztecs were ranked 25th in the USA Today Coaches Poll, but were not ranked in the AP Top 25.)
The Bulldogs snapped their 29-game losing streak to Associated Press Top 25 teams as Fresno State's last victory over an AP Top 25 team came back on Feb. 10, 2002 - a 58-52 win over No. 14 Oklahoma State at Selland Arena in downtown Fresno (Fresno State's home arena from 1967-2003).
It was Fresno State's 99th all-time game against an AP Top 25 team (20-79 record vs. AP Top 25).
This was the 10th game played against an AP Top 25 team in head coach Justin Hutson's tenure with the Bulldogs (first win).
Fresno State has now limited 25 of its last 26 opponents in regular season games, including 13 of 14 games this season, to fewer than 70 points. The Lobos tied for a season-low 67 points (vs. San Francisco, Dec. 12).
The 'Dogs increased their all-time lead in the series against New Mexico, 21-17 and improve to 15-4 at home against the Lobos.
This was Jemarl Baker's ninth game as a Bulldog with at least 10 points (seventh this season).
Eduardo Andre scored a career-high 12 points and also had a career-best four steals for the Bulldogs.
Quotes
Justin Hutson, Fresno State head coach
On the win over an AP Top 25 team...
"Happy for the guys. This group has been working really hard, and they stick with it, and that's what it's about, right? To continue to stick with it, stick through the good times and bad times. We've had some defeats that we didn't like. We fought at Utah State, we just didn't make some good decisions down the stretch, and we made better decisions here, and made some plays, and kept sticking with it. So I'm happy we get success, but as a coach, I'm happy they get success.
Isaiah Hill, Fresno State senior guard
On the physicality of the game...
"It's definitely a physical fight tonight; credit to Jalen House, a great guard, probably one of the fastest guards I have ever played against, so credit to him. We just had to get stops at the stretch, it came down to some free throws, and we had to make them.
Eduardo Andre, Fresno State junior center
On the game and the team's preparation...
"The whole coaching staff did a really good job with scouting and everything, so before the game, two or three days before the game, I know everybody's kind of habits that we are playing against, who we are guarding, how he wants me to guard certain plays. It's just about me making good reads."
On his experience in his first season at Fresno State after transferring from Nebraska...
"Since I got here, it's been great; I feel like everybody has been trying to support me when I was transferring and stuff like that. Everybody has treated me like family."
Up next
The 'Dogs head out on the road on Saturday traveling to Colorado State (8-7, 0-2 MW) for a 1:30 pm. PT contest at Moby Arena.