Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Louisiana Tech
Bulldogs Hang On For 60-58 Victory Over Louisiana Tech
1/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2005
RUSTON, La. - Dreike Bouldin had 10 points and a career-high 23 rebounds while Donovan Morris added 16 points as Fresno State defeated Louisiana Tech 60-58 on Saturday night.Trailing 54-52 with just under five minutes remaining, Morris made field goals on three consecutive trips down the floor, giving the Bulldogs (9-4, 3-1 Western Athletic Conference) the lead for good.
A steal and layup by Daevon Haskins with 47 seconds left trimmed Fresno State's lead to 60-58. After Ja'Vance Coleman missed a three-pointer with 19 seconds left, Louisiana Tech (6-7, 1-3) had a chance to tie it, but Mustafa Al-Sayyad deflected away an inbounds pass intended for Paul Millsap with 2.3 seconds to play.
Millsap recovered the ball in the corner but badly missed a desperation shot at the buzzer.
The game featured shoddy play on offense on both sides. Tech, which dropped its third in a row, made only 29.7 percent of its shots while Fresno State committed 17 turnovers and hit only 41.4 percent from the floor.
Millsap entered the game the WAC's leading rebounder, and though he finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, it was Bouldin who made the most noise on the boards. The senior from nearby Shreveport, La., recorded the most rebounds of any Bulldog since Larry Abney had a program-record 35 in 2000. It was also the highest total in the nation so far this season.
Fresno State outrebounded Louisiana Tech 48-44. Tech made only 7 of its 30 three-point attempts.
The Bulldogs built a seven-point lead in the first half, the largest of the game by either team, and eventually led 32-28 at the break. Both teams shot under 40 percent in the opening stanza.
Ja'Vance Coleman added 10 on just 3-of-15 shooting.
The game continued the trend of close games between the two teams at the Thomas Assembly Center. The last four contests in Ruston have been decided by a combined total of 11 points.
