SAN JOSE, Calif. – Leading by one heading into the final media timeout, Fresno State closed out San Jose State on the road with an 11-0 run on Tuesday night at Provident Credit Union Event Center. The Bulldogs held the Spartans to just 24 second-half points, the lowest for an opponent this season.
Xavier DuSell paced the 'Dogs with a career-high 23 points. The senior sharpshooter dropped in six 3-pointers on 10 attempts. Enoch Boakye added 14 points and 14 rebounds for the fourth double-double of his career.
HOW IT HAPPENED
With the game leveled at 10-10, a triple from Jalen Weaver started a 7-0 spurt for Fresno State. A two-minute drought, though, led into a timeout for Fresno State midway through the half as San Jose State closed to within two.
With the game staying tight, Xavier DuSell started to get hot with back-to-back 3-pointers late in the half after starting 1-of-3 from deep. The junior knocked down another with 1:05 on the clock.
The string of 3's coupled with a pair at the line resulted in DuSell scoring the Bulldogs' final 11 points of the half as the 'Dogs took a 34-33 lead into the locker room.
Six straight from Enoch Boakye, including a thunderous dunk on the break against Adrame Diongue gave Fresno State its largest lead to that point at 40-33. The Spartans stormed back following a four-point play from Trey Anderson. The 3-pointer through contact started a 17-5 run to force a timeout out of the visitors with the Bulldogs trailing 50-45.
The stoppage worked as Fresno State came out with six unanswered points to retake the lead.
With SJSU moving back up one with under seven minutes on the clock, DuSell sank his fifth 3-pointer of the night, and his first points of the second half.
Coming out of the final media timeout, Isaiah Hill knocked down a pair of free throws to give the 'Dogs a 60-57 lead. After a stop, DuSell knocked down his sixth triple while getting knocked down. The four-point play ignited the 'Dogs. Fresno State finished the game with five straight defensive stops.
NOTES
Fresno State won just its second game of the year when scoring below 70 points.
Fresno State won its first game of the year when shooting below 40 percent (1-2).
Fresno State held San Jose State to 24 points in the second half, the lowest for a Bulldog opponent this season.
Fresno State had its best assist-turnover ratio of the year at 2.4 (17-7).
Fresno State's seven turnovers were tied for the team's lowest this season. The Bulldogs had seven turnovers in both games with San Jose State.
Xavier Dusell finished with a career-high 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
DuSell was 6-of-10 from 3. The six made 3-pointers matched his career high, a feat he's accomplished six times.
Enoch Boakye recorded his fourth double-double in the last seven games, a stretch that started with his first against San Jose State in Fresno.
The junior totaled 14 points and 14 rebounds.
The center has five games with at least 13 rebounds this season.
Isaiah Hill dished out 10 assists, matching his career high. The senior has recorded 10 assists in a game four times in his career with three of those coming in the last six games.
Jalen Weaver reached double figures for the six time, totaling 10 points.
UP NEXT
Fresno State continues its week on the road traveling to Air Force. Tipoff on Saturday at Clune Arena is slated for 1 p.m. MT/12 p.m. PT and will stream on the Mountain West Network.