Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Washington State
Men's Basketball Stifles Washington State 46-29
12/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec 23, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State's stingy defense limited Washington State to nine first-half points in a 46-29 victory Monday night.
Terry Pettis, who Fresno State reinstated Saturday after he spent 30 days in a substance-abuse program, led the Bulldogs with 10 points and helped them snap a two-game home losing streak.
Washington State's 29 points tied for the eighth-lowest scored by a Division I team since the 3-point line was instituted in 1986. Georgia Southern scored a record-low 21 on Jan. 2, 1997 against Coastal Carolina.
It was also the lowest point total allowed by Fresno State since it established a program record by giving up just 26 to UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 14, 1981.
The Cougars went 10 for 43 from the field, 4 for 28 from the 3-point line and were led by Marcus Moore's eight points.
"When we're bad, we are incredibly bad," Washington State coach Dick Bennett said. "And this is one of those occasions when we were incredibly bad."
Pettis played 24 minutes in his return, hitting 2 of 6 shots and 6 of 12 free throws. The sophomore hit five foul shots in the final 2:51 to extend the Bulldogs' advantage.
"Terry really gives our team toughness and energy, and that showed out there tonight," head coach Ray Lopes said. "It was one of the better defensive performances we've had. That plus our rebounding really makes tonight's win special."
Mustafa Al-Sayyad added seven points and 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Fresno State held a 27-9 advantage at halftime, with point guard Shantay Legans scoring all eight of his points in the first half.
