Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UTEP
Men's Hoops Upends UTEP, 72-64
2/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb 14, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Melvin Ely scored 28 points to become Fresno State's all-time leading scorer as the short-handed Bulldogs defeated UTEP 72-64 on Thursday.
Ely's career total of 1,764 points surpasses Wil Hooker, who compiled 1,739 from 1989-92.
Fresno State (16-10, 7-6) used just six players after starting point guard Chris Sandy was suspended indefinitely before the game for receiving an improper benefit.
Forward Nick Enzweiler scored a career-high 17 points for UTEP (9-17, 3-11), while Antone Jarrell and Eugene Costello added 13 each. The Miners dropped to 0-10 on the road this season.
Trailing by four points at halftime, UTEP took a 43-40 lead with 14:46 remaining on an inside basket by Justino Victoriano.
Fresno State came back with a 7-0 run, capped by two Ely free throws with 12:41 left, to take the lead for good. The Bulldogs went to their 6-foot-10 center often down the stretch. Ely scored 12 of his 28 points in the final 9:50, including 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
Noel Felix added 13 points for Fresno State, while Matt Mitchell had 12 points and eight assists. The Bulldogs led 33-29 at halftime despite being held scoreless for the final 5:30.
Sandy became the third Bulldogs player this year to be punished for an extra benefit violation. Point guard Tito Maddox was dismissed from the team last spring, and Ely missed six games in December.
