Fresno State
Idaho
O'Neil Scores 18 Against Vandals
2/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2008
MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) -Guard Dwight O'Neil led the Dogs with 18 points and Hector Hernandez had a career-high 14 rebounds in a 79-74 overtime loss at Idaho.
Jordan Brooks scored a game-high 25 points, including nine in overtime, and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Vandals.
The winning Vandals (6-17, 3-9 Western Athletic Conference) closed out regulation play with an 11-0 run to force overtime.
Mike Hall added 17 points for Idaho, including a deep 3-pointer with 1:11 left in overtime that gave Idaho a 72-70 edge.
Dwight O'Neil led Fresno State (11-14, 4-7) with 18 points. Eddie Miller and Alex Blair added 13 and 12, respectively, for the Bulldogs.
Fresno State built a 19-point first-half lead, 33-14, with the aid of a 9-0 run. Idaho responded with back-to-back Michael Crowell 3-pointers that highlighted a 12-6 Vandals' run that closed the gap to 39-29 at halftime.
The Bulldogs connected on five 3-pointers in the first half, including two from O'Neil.
Fresno State maintained a comfortable lead through much of the second half until Idaho's Mike Kale, who finished with 11 points, hit a hook shot with 5:23 left. The Bulldogs' Nedeljko Golubovic hit a 3-pointer with 5:09 remaining in regulation, but that was Fresno State's final basket until O'Neil hit a layup at the 4:34 mark in overtime.
Head Coach Steve Cleveland "Certainly this is a very disappointing loss. We had the game under control but then we got to the point when we couldn't get stops and couldn't score on the other end. We had our chances to win this game and in this league on the road, you can't let these kinds of games get away."
"We can't dwell on this game at all. Boise State is next and they took care of Nevada tonight. They've played very well at home this season. We have to regroup and get ready for the Broncos."
Notes
- Dwight O'Neil made his first start since Nov. 17 when he started against Cal State Bakersfield. He was injured in that game and missed 18 games. He had one of his best games of the season with 18 points.
- Kevin Bell added four assists bringing his career total to 555. He ranks 10th on the WAC career list and should move into 9th place ahead of former New Mexico great Petie Gibson (1969-71), who had 560.
- Despite battling illness, senior Eddie Miller had a gutsy performance with 13 points.
- Senior Hector Hernandez tied his career-high with 14 rebounds.
- Idaho President Dr. Tim White is a Fresno State graduate.
- Up next for the Dogs is a road game at Boise State Saturday night. The Broncos beat Nevada 77-68 Thursday night.
Join the State - Fresno State! The Fresno State men's basketball team finishes its road swing as it takes on Boise State Saturday, February 16 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on the Bulldog Sports Network (KFRE, KUVI in Bakersfield). The `Dogs return home to the Save Mart Center on Wednesday, February 20 against Hawaii at 7 p.m. featuring the halftime entertainment of Anti-Gravity. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at (559)-485-TIXS, or in person at the Save Mart Center box office.
