Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Utah State
Fresno State Wins A Double Overtime Thriller Against Utah State
1/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2006
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Ja'Vance Coleman scored 25 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 2.6 seconds left, lifting Fresno State over Utah State 99-96 in double overtime Saturday night.
Quinton Hosley added 25 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who scored the first 10 points of the second overtime before withstanding a furious Utah State comeback.
Fresno State won its Western Athletic Conference opener, improving to 8-4 overall and halting a six-game win streak for Utah State (9-4, 1-2).
Nate Harris scored a game-high 33 points for Utah State, including a 3-pointer with 13.8 seconds left that tied the game at 96.
Coleman then calmly dribbled the ball upcourt, releasing his winning shot from the top of the key over Jaycee Carroll's outstretched fingers.
David Pak had a career-high 22 points and 12 assists for the Aggies. Pak missed an off-balance jumper from near half court at the buzzer after making two 3-pointers in the second overtime.
The hard-fought contest included 23 lead changes and 17 ties.
Utah State had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Cass Matheus missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 0.8 seconds left. The ball spun around the rim and out.
Hosley sent the game into the second overtime by rebounding Kevin Bell's missed layup and dunking it with 6.8 seconds left.
Hector Hernandez added 18 points and Dwight O'Neil 12 for the Bulldogs, who outrebounded Utah State 50-41.
Fresno State led 40-39 at halftime thanks to Coleman's 13 points and three assists.
Utah State led by as many as eight points early. Coleman's four-point play tied the game at 23-23 with 12:41 left before halftime.
"We knew that we would have to be proactive, that we would have to make the plays to win this game," said head coach Steve Cleveland. "I still can't believe that we faced a team that shot that well on our home court. In good news, though, late in the game, we did exactly what we wanted to do and converted on it."
"Late in the game, we got a little bit of basketball luck, and we needed it," said Cleveland. "Utah State is as good offensively as any team we will face this season. I couldn't be more proud of our guys though. They never, ever quit tonight, and the results showed at the end."
Fresno State single-game tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster as well as through the Save Mart Center Box Office. Season tickets can be purchased on line at gobulldogs.com or through the Bulldog Ticket Office at (559) 278-3647.
