Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Louisiana Tech
'Dogs Down LA Tech For First WAC Win
1/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- Four Bulldogs reached double figures as a strong Fresno State team effort downed Louisiana Tech, 63-46, on Thursday night in the Save Mart Center.
"This was a team effort tonight," head coach Steve Cleveland said of his `Dogs first Western Athletic Conference victory of the season. "It feels good to get a win. And do the things you have to do to get a win."
Freshman guard Paul George recorded a team-high 16 points while junior forward Sylvester Seay added 15 points and seven rebounds for Fresno State (8-11, 1-4 WAC), which held Louisiana Tech to 31.6 percent shooting and forced 17 turnovers. Freshman guards Bryce Cartwright and Mychal Ladd also scored in double digits with Cartwright dropping in 12 and Ladd finishing with 10 points. Sophomore forward Nedeljko Golubovic grabbed a team-high nine rebounds while scoring eight points with an intense defensive effort.
"Defensively, we did a really good job," Cleveland added. "I thought we contested shots. I was really pleased with the preparation and the execution defensively. I thought we attacked the zone better. I think that early on we got some transition baskets which gave our guys some confidence."
Fresno State jumped to a 36-32 halftime lead with George and Seay each netting nine points as the host Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the field and 90 percent from the free-throw line.
Throughout the first half, Fresno State created points off of steals and one of the highlights came when Cartwright took a steal to the hoop for an easy lay-up softly off the glass late with 6:55 left in the first half and a 23-22 lead.
It was the first of three consecutive steals for Fresno State. George hit two free throws following a steal and Ladd converted his into a Cartwright lay-up.
After Louisiana Tech clawed within a pair (39-37) at the beginning of the second half, George answered with five straight points, including a three-pointer with 13:54 left, and later sparked a 17-2 surge that put the game away.
Ladd's three-pointer with 3:22 left gave Fresno State its biggest lead of the game of 20 points at 61-41.
Junior guard Jamel Guyton paced Louisiana Tech with a game-high 17 points but went scoreless in the second half for Louisiana Tech (8-11, 2-4) in the battle of the two WAC Bulldog teams.
A season-high 9,147 fans watched the Bulldog fight on the Save Mart Center's hardwood.
Fresno State hits the road for a rematch with the San Jose State Spartans on Saturday night at 7 p.m. PST in San Jose, Calif., as the `Dogs look for momentum before playing their final scheduled non-conference home game next Wednesday night.
Click HERE to read the Fresno State men's basketball "Bulldog Blog"
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs hit the road as they travel to San Jose to take on the Spartans on Saturday, January 24 at 7 p.m. The `Dogs return home to the Save Mart Center on Wednesday, January 28 as they host Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. It's Working Wednesday at the Save Mart Center and fans can enter their business cards in the enter-to-win box for a chance to win prizes. Tickets are on sale now through the Save Mart Center box office, by calling (559) 485-TIXS or online at ticketmaster.com.
