SAN DIEGO – With the game hanging in the balance, leading by four, Donavan Yap Jr. scored eight of his 10 points in the final two-and-a-half minutes to help Fresno State secure a 71-67 win over San Diego on Friday night. It was the Toreros first defeat of the season at Jenny Craig Pavilion after previously winning their last eight.
Along with Yap Jr., four other Bulldogs were in double figures, led by Isaiah Pope's 13 points. Eduardo Andre and Xavier DuSell had 11 apiece while Jalen Weaver joined Yap Jr. with 10.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State opened the game up with a 7-2 advantage through five minutes. A three-minute drought saw San Diego pull back to within one. A bucket from Enoch Boakye ended the scoreless stretch and saw the Bulldogs run-off eight straight points highlighted by a steal and dunk on the break from Isaac Taveras that put the 'Dogs up 16-7 with 8:51 on the clock.
Leading 18-9 after a jumper from Xavier DuSell, three turnovers in a three-minute stretch aided an 8-0 Torero run as the home side pulled back within one again at 18-17. USD grabbed its first lead of the night with 3:51 but it lasted just 22 seconds.
Fresno State took a 26-22 advantage into the half following a layup at the buzzer from DuSell.
Leading by six, five minutes into the second, the 'Dogs hit a 6-0 run to force the Toreros to call a timeout with 13:21 to play. USD answered with six unanswered of its own before Isaiah Pope ended a near four-minute drought.
Fresno State responded, pushing the advantage back up to 12 with 6:27 on the clock.
As San Diego cut its deficit to four, Donavan Yap Jr. scored on back-to-back drives to give the Bulldogs a 60-54 lead with 1:46 to go. The Toreros wouldn't go away though as Deuce Turner dropped in three 3-pointers in the final 21 seconds to pull USD to as close as two but the Bulldogs were nails from the free-throw line down the stretch.
Fresno State was 10-of-10 on final five trips to the charity stripe to secure its first true road win of the season (1-2).
NOTES
Fresno State was the first opponent to defeat San Diego at Jenny Craig Pavilion this season. USD entered the day 8-0 at home.
Fresno State won its sixth game this season when scoring at least 70 points (6-1).
Fresno State held San Diego to its third-lowest field-goal percentage (38.8%) and its fourth-fewest points (67) of the season.
Fresno State grabbed its second-most rebounds in a game this year (45).
Fresno State had five players score in double figures for the first time this season.
Isaiah Pope was back in double figures, his second in the last three games, scoring 13 points.
Pope had a season-high four assists.
With 11 points, Eduardo Andre reached double figures for the fourth time on the year, first since Dec. 5.
Xavier DuSell reached double figures for the fourth time in his last five games.
Jalen Weaver scored at least 10 points in a game for the fourth time.
Donavan Yap recorded at least 10 points for the fifth time this season and 13th time of his career.
Enoch Boakye grabbed 14 rebounds. It was the third game of his career with 13 or more rebounds.
Isaiah Hill missed his first game of the season due to injury.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will play its third consecutive road game on Wednesday night at Mountain West preseason favorite San Diego State in its conference opener. Tipoff from Viejas Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. PT and will air on FS1.