Fresno State Athletics

Fresno State Upended at Idaho, 72-61
2/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 6, 2006
MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) -- Tanoris Shepard poured in a career-high 29 points, becoming the 12th Idaho player to surpass 1,000 career points, as the Vandals snapped a 10-game losing streak Monday night with a 72-61 victory over Fresno State.
The victory came a week after the Vandals (4-16, 1-8 Western Athletic Conference) lost by 35 points at Fresno State (11-10, 4-6).
Shepard finished the night 9-for-12 from the field, including a 6-for-8 clip from beyond the 3-point stripe.
Idaho also got 13 points from Mike Kale, 11 from Keoni Watson and 10 from Brett Ledbetter.
Fresno State was led by Ja'Vance Coleman, who finished with 23 points. Hitting six 3-pointers, he would notch his 11th 20-point game of the season and 23rd of his career.Quinton Hosley and Dwight O'Neal contributed 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Idaho opened the game with consecutive 3-pointers from Watson and Ledbetter, and the Vandals stretched their lead to 14-3 following back-to-back buckets from Desmond Nwoke and a baseline drive by Watson.
Fresno State responded with a quick 10-0 spurt, and the Bulldogs eventually tied the score at 16 on a Coleman 3-pointer with 9:33 remaining in the half. Fresno State surged ahead 20-18 on a slashing drive by O'Neal, and within a few minutes, the Bulldogs' lead had ballooned to 28-21.
Idaho responded with a 10-2 run and the teams ended the half tied at 34.
The Vandals surged ahead following three straight Shepard 3-pointers early in the second half. Posting 23 second-half points, he recorded five 3-pointers in the first nine minutes of the second frame to pace Idaho as it captured its first league win.
"We just didn't compete at the level we're used to seeing," Fresno State head coach Steve Cleveland said. "We were not the aggressor, we did not take control and we played out of sync as we were kept on our heels and got into foul trouble.
"Give Idaho credit because they shot extremely well," Cleveland stated. "(Tanoris) Shepard had a great night and they just played very well. I thought Ja'Vance (Coleman) shot well but we need everyone to contribute.
"In our loss at Boise State we played with a great energy and competed but tonight we just didn't have anything," Cleveland added. "We're not going to quit, as difficult this might be. We're going to continue to work on what needs attention and try to rectify these problem areas so that we can continue to grow and become a better team."
Fresno State is at home for two this week. The Bulldogs host San Jose State on Sat., Feb. 11, before entertaining Hawai'i on Mon., Feb. 13. Both games tip off at 7:00 p.m. Single-game tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or the Save Mart Center Box Office.