Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Nevada
Bulldogs Fall At No. 24 Nevada, 74-60
3/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 5, 2006
RENO, Nev. (AP) - Nick Fazekas scored 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead No. 24 Nevada over Fresno State 74-60 Saturday night, the Western Athletic Conference champion's 11th win in a row.
Marcelus Kemp had 12 points and Ramon Sessions added six points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Wolf Pack (24-5, 13-3), who are on their longest winning streak in 40 years.
Quinton Hosley had 23 points for his 12th 20-point performance of the season whileDwight O'Neil had 14 for the Bulldogs (15-13, 8-8) for his sixth straight double figure scoring game.
With Nevada leading 36-30 at the half, Kemp hit consecutive 3-pointers and Fazekas added a third to put the Wolf Pack ahead 45-32 with 16:57 to play. Kyle Shiloh's 3-pointer gave Nevada its biggest lead, 58-43 with 10:52 left.
O'Neil converted a three-point play after he was fouled on a basket inside, then made two free throws to pull the Bulldogs within 64-54 with 7:34 remaining. But Lyndale Burleson answered with a 3-pointer to make it 67-54 and Fresno State could get no closer.
The game was close early, as Hosley hit a 3-pointer to give Fresno State a 16-15 lead midway through the first half. Fazekas answered with a 3 to start a 7-0 run that was capped by Kemp's 15-footer for a 22-16 Nevada lead.
Hosley's third 3-pointer of the first half cut the lead to 34-30 with 2 1/2 minutes to go, but Fazekas made a hook shot to put Nevada ahead 36-30 at the half.
With 11 first half points, Hosley was 3-for-3 from the free throw line and placed himself among the school's top 10 single-season leaders with the ninth-best mark of 137 free throws made.
"We have a lot of work to do to get where Nevada is at as a program," Fresno State head coach Steve Cleveland said. "We had some poor shot selections tonight and their rebounding just hurt us. Nevada had a great energy tonight and we just got overwhelmed.
"I thought we had a great energy, too, as we tried to make up for our shooting woes with our tenacity," Cleveland said. "To be outrebounded like we did and stay within 10 for most of the game says a lot about the resolve of this team.
"Nevada did a very good job defensively, especially defending our 3-point shots," Cleveland continued. "I think we got frustrated and we were out of sync and you have to credit Nevada for that.
"In looking at the season as a whole, I think we've laid a good foundation and it's because of the resolve of this team," Cleveland added. "There were a lot of positives on this season. I don't know of any other team in the country who's had to go through what we have in the last 10 months but I tell you this team represented the University very well.
"I think we've made progress for the future and if you're going to play for Fresno State then there are no compromises," Cleveland said. "I only know one way to play and that is hard every time out. My commitment to this program is to build it so that it is compliant in every way, that this program has players that compete hard day in and day out, and that this program is one that the community can be very proud of by graduating its players and being successful on the court. We're going to change the culture and perception of this program. We have a good core of returning players and I'm very proud of them. The future starts tonight.
Fresno State will honor its players at its annual awards banquet on Mon., March 13, 6:00 p.m., at Pardini's. For details on this event, call (559) 259-1767.
