Fresno State
Hawai'i
Bulldogs Hang On to Defeat Hawaii in WAC Opener
12/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Ja'Vance Coleman and Donovan Morris scored 20 points apiece and Chris Berry hit two late free throws Wednesday night, lifting Fresno State to a 79-78 victory over previously unbeaten Hawaii.
After Berry made both free throws with 27.1 seconds left, Hawaii's Jeff Blackett missed an off-balance three-pointer at the buzzer in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
Julian Sensley scored a game-high 23 points for Hawaii (8-1, 0-1), while Blackett added 18 points and nine rebounds.
Mustafa Al-Sayyad had 15 points for Fresno State (7-3, 1-0), which made 13 of 14 free throws down the stretch and did not commit a second-half turnover.
"We beat a good basketball team tonight," said head coach Ray Lopes "Hawaii is a good basketball team. We had the right bounce at the end. In the Oregon game they got the bounce and tonight, the same situation, last possession, and we had to defend well. We defended well enough and got a break. I'm proud of our kids and it's a good way to start WAC."
Fresno State tied it at 61 with 8:25 left when Donovan Morris drove the lane and threw in an awkward layup while hanging in mid air. The Bulldogs had trailed almost the entire game.
The Rainbow Warriors regained the lead on the ensuing possession when Blackett hit both free throws after drawing a blocking foul on Al-Sayyad.
The final 8:25 featured five ties and three lead changes. After Matthew Gipson's 3-pointer gave Hawaii a 77-74 lead with 1:36 left, Morris answered with a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
One of nine freshmen on Fresno State's roster, Morris finished 7-of-7 from the field and made all five of his 3-pointers.
Deonte Tatum made one free throw with 49.5 seconds left, putting the Warriors ahead for the final time.
Hawaii led 41-32 at halftime by controlling the tempo and consistently getting good looks from its halfcourt offense.
Those looks disappeared in the second half. Fresno State committed 12 fouls and made 19 of 31 free throws compared to Hawaii's 21 fouls and 11-of-16 foul shooting.
