Fresno State Athletics
Blair Plays Solid in Final Game as a Bulldog
3/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 13, 2008
LAS CRUCES, NM - Despite ending the season with a tough seven point loss to the WAC Co-Champion Nevada Wolf Pack in the quarterfinal round of the WAC tournament, Fresno State's Alex Blair saved his best game for last as he had a career high 14 points to go along with eight rebounds in 22 minutes of play.
"I told Alex after the game that this was the best game he has played in a Bulldog uniform," Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland said. "He played well against them at home. The thing about Alex is that defensively he can guard their bigs because he is athletic enough and plays hard. He has done a nice job. Tonight he made baskets and got some aggression level going to the basket."
Thursday's game was the second time this season Blair has scored in double figures. The Bulldog senior played nine minutes in the first half and had six points and two rebounds.
Despite the loss and the 13-19 finish to the season, the Bulldog coach couldn't have been more pleased with the attitude his players showed throughout the year.
"I have never spent more time working harder as a coach," Cleveland said. "I have never had a group of young men that came to practice every day with a great attitude and had great chemistry. We weren't good enough to beat quality teams but it was never for a lack of effort. There was never any kind of finger pointing. I have seen teams disintegrate when things aren't going well but this never ever happened in 32 games. That says something about the character of these young men."
Kevin Bell ended his Fresno State career as the All-Time assists leader with 599, passing Dominic Young's 598 in 1995-97. Bell's four assists, all coming in the second half, moved him to fifth on the WAC Career Assist Record.
Eddie Miller's three 3-pointers gave him 113 for the season which is the third best single season mark in the WAC. He moved up to 18th place in the WAC with 200 3-pointers made for his career.
