Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
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Pepperdine
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Bulldogs Fall 89-74 in Season Opener at Pepperdine
11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Stephen Trembley
strembley@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
MALIBU, Calif. --- While Bulldogs' junior guard Marvelle Harris posted a team-high 25 points, the Fresno State men's basketball team ran into a red-hot Pepperdine Waves squad that made shot after shot and handed the 'Dogs an 89-74 season-opening loss on Friday night in Malibu.
"We didn't play as a team," fourth-year head coach Rodney Terry said. "That's really the disappointing part of it. We could not get defensive stops when we needed to. We have to be better than how we played tonight."
The Bulldogs allowed the Waves to shoot 56.9 percent from the field, including 15 of their first 19 shots of the night. Fresno State, meanwhile, did convert 47.5 percent of its 59 field goal attempts, but struggled from long range and made no 3-pointers in the second half.
Aside from Harris' 25 points, which marked his ninth career contest with at least 20 points, Texas transfer Julien Lewis added 19 points.
After the 'Dogs dug themselves into a 15-point first half deficit, Harris sparked a 10-0 run that extended to a 12-3 surge to close the opening half.
However, Pepperdine answered back early in the second half and cruised to the 15-point victory. The Waves had five players score in double figures with two surpassing the 20-point mark - Stacy Davis (22) and Jeremy Major (21).
Pepperdine held a 41-35 halftime lead and quickly stretched that to 47-37 after Udenyi made a free throw and a 3-pointer jump shot and Stacy Davis hit a jumper. The Bulldogs closed the gap to 74-65 following a Marvelle Harris dunk with 5:20 left, but could get no closer.
Up Next
Fresno State will host Bristol University on Monday night at 7 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. for its home opener
The Associated Press and Jason Kelm contributed to this report.
"Be Bold." --- Season tickets for the 2014-15 season are available starting at $149 with mini-plans available starting at $84. A special holiday pack is also on sale for $30 and includes a ticket to the Nov. 29 football game vs. Hawai'i, the Nov. 30 men's basketball game vs. Cal and a Derek Carr Bobblehead. For more information, call 559-278-DOGS.
