Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
San Jose State
Hernandez Lifts Bulldogs Past Spartans, 79-66
2/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 12, 2006
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Hector Hernandez recorded career highs with 25 points and four blocks, leading a second-half charge that propelled Fresno State past San Jose State 79-66 Saturday night.
Picking up his 10th career double figure game, Hernandez posted his first career 20-point performance as he also collected career-high marks in 3-pointers (5) and blocks.
Ja'Vance Coleman added 23 points for Fresno State (12-10, 5-6 Western Athletic Conference), helping the Bulldogs snap a two-game losing streak.
He notched his 12th 20-point game of the season and 24th of his career as he stands two points shy of becoming the 34th Bulldog in school history to tally 900 career points.Alex Elam had 16 points for San Jose State (6-17, 2-8), and Demetrius Brown added 15 points and eight rebounds.
The last time the Bulldogs had two players with 20 or more points in a game happened at home against Utah State on Jan. 7. Quinton Hosley and Coleman each had 25 points in the double overtime WAC victory.Fresno State broke open a tie game at halftime by outscoring the Spartans 29-12 to begin the second half. Coleman's 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down gave the Bulldogs a 67-50 lead with 9:45 left.
San Jose State got no closer than eight points the rest of the game. The Spartans have dropped 12 of their last 14 games under first-year coach George Nessman.
While Fresno State shot 41.1 percent from the field in both halves, Hosley added eight points and had a game-high 10 rebounds, his 11th double figure rebound game of the season.
Outrebounding the Spartans, 46-42, Fresno State pulled down season-high second half marks in rebounds (27) and blocks (5).
The Bulldogs made 11-of-36 3-pointers, while San Jose State went 3-of-13 from beyond the arc. Fresno State has tallied 10 10-plus 3-pointer games on the season.
Neither team led by more than five points in a competitive first half featuring six ties and 11 lead changes.
Hernandez's 3-pointer at the buzzer lifted Fresno State into a 38-38 halftime tie. That marked the first time on the season in which the Bulldogs won after leaving the floor at half all knotted up.
In addition, Fresno State head coach Steve Cleveland posted his 150th career win. The 10 wins now collected at home have tied the Save Mart Center record for most home wins. Currently at 10-2 in the friendly SMC confines, the Bulldogs have already secured the best home record in arena history.
"We had more of an aggressive mentality tonight," Fresno State head coach Steve Cleveland said. "Anyone can beat anyone on any given night in this league. I know we need to get better at defensive rebounding but I'm very proud of their effort and the good attitude that was displayed tonight.
"I thought Hector (Hernandez) had a huge offensive night," Cleveland added. "He made huge and timely baskets. He has really grown up this past year. He's had big games this season against the likes of Utah State and Nevada but he's also maturing and we're going to see a very good basketball player by the time he's finished here.
"Ja'Vance (Coleman) by far played the hardest he's ever played; he's simply exhausted," Cleveland stated. "He guarded, he rebounded, he shot, he made contested shots, and he did it all tonight.
"The key tonight was our good execution to start the second half," Cleveland continued. "We got the energy we needed to have to start off the half. Give San Jose State credit, though, as they played very hard, are well coached and simply attacked us.
"We're working hard towards being our best every night," Cleveland said. "We just need to remember to control the things we can and then build on that. We have to have everyone play hard together every night to succeed and I think we're heading in that direction."
Fresno State will host Hawai'i on Mon., Feb. 13, 7:00 p.m. Single-game tickets may be purchased through any Ticketmaster outlet, on-line or by calling 485-TIXS. Single-game tickets also can be had through the Save Mart Center Box Office.
