Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UC Riverside (McCaffrey Classic)
No. 20 Men's Basketball Breezes By Riverside 75-58
11/30/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov 30, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Chris Jefferies scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead No. 20 Fresno State to a 75-58 victory Friday night over UC Riverside in the first round of the McCaffrey Classic.
The Bulldogs (4-1) played without Melvin Ely, who voluntarily removed himself after the university was alerted of allegations the 6-foot-10 center received an improper benefit. Ely denied the charges.
Ely, Fresno State's leading scorer and rebounder, will also sit out Saturday's championship game against Air Force, a 70-65 winner over Montana State.
"The university will work closely with the NCAA to resolve this issue as quickly as possible as to speed Melvin's return to competition, hopefully within the next few days," interim athletics director Scott Johnson said.
The Bulldogs didn't miss Ely against UC Riverside, a second-year Division I program. The Highlanders (0-3) got 14 points from Vili Morton but shot just 27.5 percent from the field.
With Ely watching in street clothes, Fresno State enjoyed a double-digit lead throughout much of the first half until a layup by Mark Miller made the score 28-25 with 2:42 remaining.
The Bulldogs responded with a 9-2 run to close the first half, capped by a floating jumper by Jefferies.
Noel Felix and Damon Jackson each added 17 points for Fresno State. Hiram Fuller started at center in place of Ely and had eight rebounds.
The Bulldogs, who shot 46.7 percent, led by as many as 20 points on three occasions in the second half.
Ely is the second Fresno State player to come under NCAA scrutiny this season. Point guard Chris Sandy, a transfer from Westark (Ark.) Community College, is ineligible until Dec. 20.
