Fresno State Tops Cats
11/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Fresno State converted 90 percent of its 30 free throws and turned the ball over only eight times, holding on for an 86-74 home win against Montana State on Wednesday.
Facing large FSU leads in both halves, MSU drew to within one point in the first half and five points late in the second, but the Bulldogs answered with decisive scoring runs on both occasions.
A Mbunga layup pulled MSU within 20-19 midway through the first half, but Fresno State answered with a 25-6 run and took a 47-30 lead into halftime. MSU chopped at the lead throughout the second half, drawing to within 75-70 on a James Hennessy layup with 4:48 to play, but the Bulldogs scored the next 14 points and held MSU scoreless for just over three minutes in sealing the win.
"We missed layups and they went on runs, and those are deflating when you're on the road," said MSU coach Brad Huse. "I knew we'd make a run in the second half, it was just too much to overcome."
Huse said Fresno State's hot start - the Bulldogs jumped to a 14-6 lead in the game's first five minutes - set the tone for the night. "They came out hot against us and our defense," he said. "They scored, they made baskets, and I thought they had a great first half against us offensively. They changed the emphasis of how they had been playing, and we expected that, but they still took it at us."
Fresno State got a lot of work done at the free throw line, scoring 27 of its 86 points from the stripe. "They were getting there, and they weren't missing," Huse said. "They got to the line early in the second half, and they weren't missing."
Junior center Divaldo Mbunga had his best night as a Bobcat, getting 22 points and eight rebounds. Carlos Taylor led all players with 25 points. Huse said it was no accident those two players performed well.
"Our two most athletic guys had the biggest nights," he said. "When you're playing an athletic team, sometimes your athletic guys have to step forward. We had some bad possessions early where we were taking long shots and settling. We wanted to establish ourselves inside, and we did more of that as the night went on."
While MSU's offense proved effective much of the night, Huse said his team's defense needs to elevate its game. "We have to defend better. We have to get teams into the 70s and eventually into the 60s. I'm pleased where we're at offensively, 74 points, but we have to get to the point where that's enough."
Facing large FSU leads in both halves, MSU drew to within one point in the first half and five points late in the second, but the Bulldogs answered with decisive scoring runs on both occasions.
A Mbunga layup pulled MSU within 20-19 midway through the first half, but Fresno State answered with a 25-6 run and took a 47-30 lead into halftime. MSU chopped at the lead throughout the second half, drawing to within 75-70 on a James Hennessy layup with 4:48 to play, but the Bulldogs scored the next 14 points and held MSU scoreless for just over three minutes in sealing the win.
"We missed layups and they went on runs, and those are deflating when you're on the road," said MSU coach Brad Huse. "I knew we'd make a run in the second half, it was just too much to overcome."
Huse said Fresno State's hot start - the Bulldogs jumped to a 14-6 lead in the game's first five minutes - set the tone for the night. "They came out hot against us and our defense," he said. "They scored, they made baskets, and I thought they had a great first half against us offensively. They changed the emphasis of how they had been playing, and we expected that, but they still took it at us."
Fresno State got a lot of work done at the free throw line, scoring 27 of its 86 points from the stripe. "They were getting there, and they weren't missing," Huse said. "They got to the line early in the second half, and they weren't missing."
Junior center Divaldo Mbunga had his best night as a Bobcat, getting 22 points and eight rebounds. Carlos Taylor led all players with 25 points. Huse said it was no accident those two players performed well.
"Our two most athletic guys had the biggest nights," he said. "When you're playing an athletic team, sometimes your athletic guys have to step forward. We had some bad possessions early where we were taking long shots and settling. We wanted to establish ourselves inside, and we did more of that as the night went on."
While MSU's offense proved effective much of the night, Huse said his team's defense needs to elevate its game. "We have to defend better. We have to get teams into the 70s and eventually into the 60s. I'm pleased where we're at offensively, 74 points, but we have to get to the point where that's enough."
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