Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Montana State (Preseason NIT)
No. 25 Men's Basketball Downs Montana State 92-70
11/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov 14, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Melvin Ely scored 29 points and Chris Jefferies added 25 as Fresno State defeated Montana State 92-70 Tuesday night in the first round of the Preseason NIT.
Both totals were career-highs for Ely and Jefferies, the 1-2 punch predicted to lead the Bulldogs to the Western Athletic Conference title. Ely, 13-of-16 from the field, also led Fresno State with six rebounds and tied a career high with eight blocked shots.
The Bulldogs advance to meet No. 20 Southern California, a 68-55 winner over Wyoming, in the second round on Thursday night.
Fresno State outscored Montana State 35-4 in a 10:51 stretch spanning the end of the first half and the beginning of the second.
Montana State (0-1) led for much of the first half until the Bulldogs closed with a 14-0 run to take a 40-30 halftime lead.
James Clark led the Bobcats with 16 points, while Damir Latovic and Danny Faaborg added 10 apiece.
Fresno State had a 10-0 edge in blocked shots and shot 58.7 percent from the field.
