Fresno State
Louisiana Tech
Bulldogs Take Out Louisiana Tech, 70-58
2/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Kevin Bell scored 18 points and Eddie Miller added 17 as Fresno State kept Louisiana Tech winless in Western Athletic Conference play with a 70-58 victory Monday night.
Fresno State (11-12 overall, 4-5 WAC) led from start to finish in its second win in six games.
Kyle Gibson had a game-high 22 points for Louisiana Tech (3-17, 0-8), which dropped to 0-8 on the road. Orren Tims added 13 points and eight rebounds.
Fresno State led by as many as 27 points with 13:27 remaining in the second half before Louisiana Tech crept back into the game with a 15-0 scoring run.
Louisiana Tech pulled to within 68-58 on Tims' 3-pointer with 2:02 left but could get no closer, choosing not to foul Fresno State in the final minutes.
Nedeljko Golubovic had nine points and seven rebounds for Fresno State, which enjoyed a 20-4 edge on fast-break points and shot 40 percent (8-of-20) from beyond the arc.
Miller led the way with five 3-pointers, accounting for all of his field goals. Bell finished 7-of-10 from the field and added six assists.
Fresno State led 38-17 at halftime, holding Louisiana Tech to 25 percent shooting in the first half.
Miller had 11 points for the Bulldogs. Bell added 10, highlighted by consecutive layups that made the score 25-11 and forced Louisiana Tech to call timeout with 7:09 left.
Fresno State barely looked back after opening the game with an 11-0 run.
Gibson scored seven of Louisiana Tech's first nine points and had an assist on the other basket.
Dwight O'Neil saw his first action since breaking his wrist in a Nov. 17 loss to Cal State Bakersfield. He finished with three points and two steals.
Quotes from Head Coach Steve Cleveland
"I think that certainly the first 20 minutes we completely controlled the game. The second 20 minutes we went through the motions and they got on our heels. We won, but I told them I was not pleased about how we finished the last 20 minutes. That's just not how we have been playing. We just weren't back-cutting and attacking like we needed to."
"Kevin and Eddie both did what they normally do and it was nice to see Ned come in and score at the end. We are in search of someone that is going to make a low-post move and Ned seems to be the guy that is the most consistent. Hector hit a couple toward the end but we need to get more production inside."
"Dwight is heavily bandaged and it's hard. He has been practicing for two or three days but he has never worn that, so it was quite an adjustment. For a young man that has been out 11-and-a-half weeks, for making those two free throws, I was proud of him."
Quotes by Dwight O'Neil
"The workouts have been killing me so it's better to be out on the court. I have to get back into game shape too."
Quotes by Eddie Miller
"It means a lot to have Dwight back. He is a great player, scorer and defender. With him back, that is just another body that is going to be able to help out there on the court and make things happen for us."
Notes
- This was the first game since breaking his hand Nov. 17 at CSU Bakersfield for Dwight O'Neil. He finished with three points, all free throws, four defensive rebounds and two steals in 10 minutes.
- The 17 points the Bulldogs held La. Tech to in the first half is the lowest point total allowed by the Fresno State defense in one half of play this season.
- Alex Blair attempted four and made a career-high four free throws.
- With seven rebounds, Ned Golubovic tied a career-high. This was the third time this season he had pulled down seven rebounds. He also tied a career-high with one block.
- Tyson Parker tied his career-high with 29 minutes and his season-high with one block and one three-point field goal.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The Fresno State men's basketball team continues WAC play in the Save Mart Center against Utah State Thursday, February 7 at 7 p.m. 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.
