Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
San Diego
Fresno State Falls to Toreros At San Diego SLAM
12/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 10, 2005
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Nick Lewis scored 29 points to lead San Diego to a 72-61 victory over Fresno State Saturday in the first game of the San Diego SLAM at Cox Arena.
The win was the sixth in a row for the Toreros (7-2), while Fresno State dropped to 4-2.
Lewis, who went 9-for-15 from the floor, scored his team's first 10 points in the second half as San Diego boosted its 39-34 halftime lead to 54-46.
Fresno State pulled within three points at 54-51 with just over six minutes to play but Lewis and Corey Belser sparked a 14-5 run to finish off the Bulldogs.
Belser had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Lewis had eight rebounds and was 9-for-11 from the free-throw line.
Quinton Hosley led Fresno State with 18 points while sharing top honors in rebounds (10). Dwight O'Neil had 13 for his third double figure game of the season while Hector Hernandez scored a career-high 12 points.
San Diego was 17-for-23 from the free-throw line, Fresno State 17-for-32.
"We struggled in every facet of the game," Fresno State head coach Steve Cleveland said. "We didn't do well and I'm very disappointed. We were careless with the ball, missed too many free throws and our perimeter shooting was off.
"Defensively, with five or six minutes left in the game, I thought we were still in it despite our offensive troubles," Cleveland said. "You have to give San Diego credit; forcing us out of rhythm all night and them controlling both ends of the floor. We were out of sync tonight.
"I thought Hector (Hernandez) competed hard all night," Cleveland added. "He had energy and had some key steals for us. Quinton (Hosley) did what he's supposed to do and just kept gutting it out. Their guy (Corey) Belser did a great job of guarding Ja'Vance (Coleman)."
Fresno State is on the road next week when the Bulldogs travel to Pacific on Sat., Dec. 17, 7:00 p.m. That game will be televised by Bulldog Sports Network on KFRE (WB 59).
