Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Montana
Golubovic Ties Career-High with 14 as 'Dogs Rally Late
12/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 14, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Fresno State rallied from a 15-point second half deficit before falling to the Montana Grizzlies, 69-65, on Sunday afternoon in the Save Mart Center.
Junior forward Sylvester Seay led Fresno State (4-5) with 17 points while sophomore forward Nedeljko Golubovic equaled a career high with 14. George, Fresno State's leading scorer and rebounder on the season by averaging 15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds, finished with 13 points and four boards despite playing in constant foul trouble. Junior forward Brian Seals earned his first Division I collegiate start as he recorded a career-high five rebounds in only 14 minutes.
"I give a lot of credit to Montana," Bulldog head coach Steve Cleveland said. "They came to play tonight and we didn't make shots when we needed to. Our late rally was too little, too late."
Montana (6-4) withstood a late Bulldog charge that brought Fresno State within three points with a mere seven seconds remaining in the game.
Montana had led 54-39 with under 10 minutes to play before the Bulldogs surged back into the game.
Senior guard Dwight O'Neil's layup started an 8-0 scoring run that sent Fresno State within 56-51 and 3:26 left to go.
A highlight-reel dunk by freshman guard Paul George, in which he drew a foul from Montana's Anthony Johnson before completing the three-point play, highlighted the late game rally.
"We were ready mentally and physically, but they just outplayed us," George said.
The Grizzlies used timely shots and nearly automatic execution on the free throw line to thwart the Bulldogs comeback bid. Johnson drove the lane and hit a jumper over Golubovic. McGillis swished seven straight free throws missing on his eighth attempt with 4.7 seconds left.
Johnson and Jack McGillis each scored 15 points to help the Grizzlies (6-4) extend their winning streak to four games. Ryan Staudacher added 14 points for Montana, including 4-of-7 from three-point range.
Montana led 35-27 at halftime behind Staudacher's 11 first-half points on 4-of-4 shooting.
The Bulldogs return to the hardwood on Thursday for the start of the Las Vegas Classic with first round action against Northern Colorado. The game marks the first of four games over six days, with the first two contests in Fresno and the final two games in Las Vegas, Nev.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs host Northern Colorado as a part of the Las Vegas Classic on Thursday, December 18 at 8:00 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. It's Thursday Nights at the Save Mart Center and all Fresno State and Fresno Unified faculty and staff receive $5 off adult reserved upper bowl seats (limit 4 tickets) with their faculty/staff ID. The women's Loyola Marymount ticket will also be valid for the men's Northern Colorado game. Tickets are on sale now through the Save Mart Center box office, by calling (559) 485-TIXS or online at ticketmaster.com.
