Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Hawai'i
Men's Basketball Stumbles Against Hawaii 83-73
12/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec 28, 2001
HONOLULU (AP) - Predrag Savovic scored 23 points, including 19 in the second half, to lead Hawaii over Fresno State 83-73 in their opening game of the Western Athletic Conference season on Thursday night.
Carl English added 22 points, six rebounds and five assists as the Rainbow Warriors (10-2) won their fourth game in a row.
The Bulldogs (8-5) were led by Chris Jefferies' 21 points and nine rebounds. Damon Jackson added 13 points and Hiram Fuller had 11 before fouling out.
After Fresno State pulled to within three points, Hawaii went on a 16-6 run with Savovic and Mindaugas Burneika scoring five points each to take a 79-66 lead with 4:03 left in the game.
Burneika had 12 points off the bench and Phil Martin scored 10.
The Rainbow Warriors jumped out to a 25-17 lead, capping a 12-2 run with English scoring a pair of 3-pointers. The Bulldogs responded with a 12-4 run, tying the game at 29.
A 3-point goal by Mark Campbell gave Hawaii a 37-34 lead at the half. There were seven lead changes and six ties in the first half.
Chris Sandy, who started his first game for the Bulldogs, had seven points and five assists.
The Bulldogs were without Melvin Ely, the 2001 WAC Player of the Year, who sat out his sixth game because of an NCAA investigation into allegations the 6-foot-10 center had received improper benefits.
Fresno State officials said Ely was cleared to play Saturday against San Jose State.
