Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Portland
Three's Lift Men's Basketball to Victory
11/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State men's basketball team put on a 3-point exhibition in the first day of the World Vision Classic presented by Pape' as they hit 13-of-26 3-pointers to beat the University of Portland 75-68 on Friday at the Save Mart Center.
Dwight O'Neil was five-of-seven from behind the arc and led Fresno State with 21 points. Eddie Miller hit four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points.
"Dwight really gave us a spark," Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland said. "He really stepped it up. The good thing about Eddie was that he kept coming off screens. He and Dwight really made this game for us."
Hector Hernandez hit two three's while Nedeljko Golubovic each had one.
"The one thing we do is shoot the three," Cleveland said. "If we can't beat people with the three then we'll lose. We had enough post touches tonight to make the three work."
Kevin Bell added 12 points and five assists for the Bulldogs. Hernandez had a team-best six rebounds. Fresno State shot 40 percent from the floor while Portland shot 42 percent. The Fresno State defense forced Portland into 19 turnovers.
Portland led Fresno State 23-10 with 9:17 left in the first half and maintained the double digit lead at 25-14 with 4:38 left until halftime.
In the final four minutes of the half Fresno State caught fire, hitting four 3-pointers to take a 28-27 lead at the break. Bell started the late first half run with a layup and Hernandez, O'Neil and Miller combined to hit the four three's.
"What you saw in the first half was us getting out of our shell," O'Neil said.
The Bulldogs fell behind 37-34 five minutes into the second half but then went on an 18-2 run that was capped off by an O'Neil 3-pointer with 9:48 to play in the game. Fresno State led by as many as 16 points at 59-43 with 5:34 left in the game.
Portland made a late run and got within seven in the final minutes of the game.
Portland was led by Robin Smeulders 17 points and nine rebounds.
Fresno State returns to the floor for the second day of the World Vision Classic presented by Pape on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. when they play Liberty. San Diego State plays Portland in at 8 p.m. San Diego State defeated Liberty 62-50.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - Fresno State continues play in the World Vision Classic presented by Pape on Saturday, November 10 against Liberty at 5:30 p.m. followed by San Diego State against Portland at 8 p.m. World Vision and the Pape Group have teamed up to "Stuff the Pape Truck" with donations of new basketballs to go to children here in the United States and around the world. Bring a basketball to the Save Mart Center this weekend. Season and group tickets, along with mini plan packages, can be purchased online at gobulldogs.com, by phone at 559-278-DOGS, or in person at the Bulldog Ticket Office. Single game tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at (559)485-TIXS or at the Save Mart Center box office.
