Nov. 30, 2002
Box Score
Fresno, CA--- A poor night at the free throw line and too many turnovers cost the Idaho State men's basketball team in a 65-53 loss to a very talented Fresno State team on Friday night in the McCaffrey Classic.
Idaho State made only 5-of-14 free throw attempts, while the Bulldogs made 15-of-19 from the charity stripe. The Bengals also turned the ball over 23 times.
"Five-for-14 from the free throw line is killing us," said Idaho State coach Doug Oliver. "I can't stand to watch it."
The 12-point final margin equaled the halftime score, but the score fluctuated dramatically throughout the second half.
Fresno State (1-0) jumped out to 15-6 lead to open the game on the way to a 34-22 halftime lead. Idaho State (1-3) began the second half with a 9-0 run, including a big 3-pointer by Jeremy Brown, to cut the lead to 34-31.
From there, the Bulldogs went on a run of their own; a pair of monster dunks and a long-range trey got the crowd of 9,808 on its feet and opened a gap between the two squads. The Bengals closed within six points of Fresno State in the final two minutes, and had a chance to cut the margin to three points, but ISU couldn't get any closer as the Bulldogs pulled away. Fresno State closed the game by hitting six straight foul shots.
The Bulldogs only shot 38 percent from the field, joining ISU's other three opponents in being held to under 40 percent. The loss was ISU's first in regulation this year. They had previously lost to both Texas-San Antonio and Boise State in overtime.
"Our effort in the second half was not bad at all," Oliver said.
"It was all about our offensive execution; we sustained it for a few minutes (in the second half)."
Brown left the game with about eight minutes left after being knocked to the floor; he didn't return and the extent of his injury was unknown. ISU has been beseiged by injuries this season. Ray Munyagi missed the Coppin State game with a cincussion, and Danny Boticki missed a good part of overtime against Boise State with leg cramps. Freshman Derek Quinet had his season ended in ISU's second exhibition game when he tore his ACL.
The Bengals will face Sam Houston State tonight at 6:30 p.m. Sam Houston State lost 75-66 to St. Mary's on Friday.
The Idaho State Journal contributed to this story
