FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State closed out nonconference play on Saturday afternoon with an 86-69 defeat to Cal Baptist at the Save Mart Center despite shooting a season-high 55.6% from behind the 3-point line.
The Bulldogs had four players in double figures with Zaon Collins leading the 'Dogs with 14 points to go with six assists. Dominique Daniels Jr. had a game-high 29 points for the Lancers.
How It Happened
Fresno State started strong, scoring the first five points before a free throw from CBU got the Lancers on the board two minutes into the game. An and-1 from Mykell Robinson put the Bulldogs up 8-1 early. Dominique Daniels Jr. answered with six points during the next minute, but Robinson responded with a triple to put the 'Dogs back up six at 13-7 with 15:25 on the clock.
A 5-0 stretch gave Fresno State its largest lead of the game at 18-9 seven minutes in as the 'Dogs connected on their first seven shot attempts. While CBU tried to chip away at its deficit during the next six minutes, the Bulldogs had answers.
But after Zaon Collins put the Bulldogs up 27-20, Fresno State went cold. Going five minutes without a bucket (0-of-7), the Lancers went on an 11-0 run to take a 31-27 lead with 2:31 left in the half following a 3 from Daniels Jr. Collins answered at the other end with one of his own and Jalen Weaver regained the lead for the 'Dogs with a layup 30 seconds later.
The lead swung back to CBU after a layup from Sam Silverstein but Joshua Bonga knocked down his first 3-pointer of the season with 64 seconds to go. Javonte Johnson gave CBU the lead at the half with a triple of his own.
Fresno State went into the locker room with its slimmest halftime deficit of the season at 36-35 after shooting 53.8% from the field (14-of-26).
With the Bulldogs' deficit still at one a minute-and-a-half into the second half, CBU went 4-of-4 during a 10-2 two-minute spurt that opened up a 49-40 advantage. The Bulldogs cut that back to five just after five minutes had passed with back-to-back buckets from Elijah Price. After the two sides traded 3's, the Lancers jumped out to a 15-point lead through an 11-3 stretch that took just over two minutes.
With CBU shooting 60.6% in the second half, the Bulldogs were unable to cut into the deficit as they trailed by double digits the remainder of the afternoon.
Notes
Fresno State finished 4-7 in nonconference play.
Fresno State trailed at the half for the 11th time this season (3-8).
Fresno State shot a season-high 55.6% from 3-point range.
The Bulldogs' 10 made 3-pointers were their second-most in a game this season.
Fresno State shot 46.6% from the field, its second-highest percentage this year.
Fresno State was outrebounded by double digits (39-27) for the fifth time this season (0-5).
Zaon Collins had a team-high 14 points and six assists.
Up Next
Fresno State begins Mountain West play on Dec. 27 at UNLV. Tipoff at Thomas & Mack Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT and will stream on the Mountain West Network.