Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Marist
Furious Comeback Bid Comes Up Short
11/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2014
By Stephen Trembley
strembley@csufresno.edu
www.GoBulldogs.com
ESTERO, Fla. -- Facing a 20-point second half deficit, the Fresno State men's basketball team nearly pulled off an incredible comeback, but the Marist Red Foxes did just enough down the stretch and handed the Bulldogs a 68-64 loss on Wednesday in the seventh-place game of the 2014 Gulf Coast Showcase in Southwest Florida.
Fresno State (1-5) was led offensively by junior guard Marvelle Harris, who had a team-best 17 points, six rebounds and six assists. Julien Lewis added 14 points, which marked his sixth straight double-digit scoring effort, seven rebounds and three steals for the Bulldogs.
"We're going to continue to coach our guys hard and continue to work our tails off to get guys better - whether it be in practice or games," fourth-year Fresno State head coach Rodney Terry said. "We're a break away - here or there - from turning this thing the way we need to. We have to go out and get it."
Marist's Chavaughn Lewis scored a game-high 28 points and Manny Thomas chipped in 13, including five in the final minute, for the previously winless Red Foxes.
Marist (1-4) built a 14-point lead in the first half before Lewis hit a 3-pointer from the far corner to cut the Bulldogs' deficit to 33-22 entering halftime. The Red Foxes regrouped at the break and surged ahead by 20 on multiple occasions - the latest coming as a 50-30 lead over the 'Dogs with 12:41 to play.
"We got great looks early, had opportunities and got the ball where we wanted to early in the short corner and didn't finish," Terry said.
Sparked by a renewed sense of urgency on defense, Fresno State went on a 10-0 run that ultimately extended to a 34-16 stretch, but the Bulldogs ran out of time.
"We guarded the last 12 minutes the way we should have all game," Terry said of the Bulldogs' intensity during the second-half comeback bid. "For the first 20 minutes, we didn't guard the way we had during the first two games down here."
Thomas broke free for a dunk at 56 seconds and Marist made 6 of 8 free throws to hold off the 'Dogs late surge. Lewis made the first two, Phillip Lawrence, who scored 19 points, made one of two and Thomas was 3 of 4 in the final 15 seconds. Marist ended up 17 of 22 from the free throw line line while Fresno State was 7-of-13.
"We're really developing our chemistry right now - we have guys that just have to do the job when they come in," Terry said. "I told our guys, `When you are down on the mat, you have to get back up and just have to keep fighting.' We're going to come back in practice. As coaches we are going to work as hard as we can work and want our guys to come back with the right attitude and be ready to work. Nothing is easy in life. We just have to keep battling."
Up Next
Fresno State (1-5) will host California, who is 3-1 heading into Wednesday night's contest versus Cal Poly, on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. PT. The contest will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network with Jason Horowitz and Doug Gottlieb calling the action. 940 AM ESPN Radio will also carry the game live with Paul Loeffler and Randy Rosenbloom on the call.
The Associated Press 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.
