Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UC Santa Cruz
Bulldog Men Cruise in Exhibition Opener
11/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2014
By Jason Clay
jaclay@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State men's basketball team opened its 2014-15 season with a 77-38 exhibition victory over UC Santa Cruz on Sunday in the Save Mart Center.
The Bulldogs held the Banana Slugs to 24 percent shooting in the contest and forced 22 turnovers in their lone tune-up before regular season play begins next Friday at Pepperdine.
"We played great first-half defense, were able to throw the ball inside and get the ball to our post players in the first half as well as the second half, so we felt good that we executed that," associate head coach Michael Schwartz said. "Experience for the new guys, I think that was big to get the experience for the freshman and some of the transfers."
Fresno State had four players score in double figures with sophomore Paul Watson leading the way with 18 points and seven rebounds. Watson is coming off his rookie campaign where he was named the 2013-14 Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
Joining Watson in double figures was Marvelle Harris with 15, Karachi Edo with 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds and junior college transfer Darnell Taylor chipped in with 11 points.
"Just getting a feel for playing in a live game together," Harris said was the main thing the team wanted to get out of Sunday's exhibition. "Just getting up and down the court for a full 40 minutes and seeing what it is like playing with each other in a real game."
The Bulldogs as a team shot 51.9 percent from the floor and shared the ball well, collecting 15 assists on 27 made field goals in the game.
"We can have three, four and sometimes even five guys out there on the court that are capable threats on offense," Schwartz said. "That really helps the offensive flow and as a coaching staff that's something we always want. We want our guys to share the basketball, get opportunities all the way around."
Fresno State opened up a 10-point lead in the first eight minutes behind nine early points from Harris.
The Bulldogs would go on to hold UC Santa Cruz to just nine points in the first half with their pressure defense that forced 11 turnovers and held the Banana Slugs to just 3-of-27 shooting through 20 minutes. Fresno State did not allow UC Santa Cruz to get a field goal in the last 11:43 of the first half.
UC Santa Cruz shot much better in the second half, hitting 39.1 percent of its shots but still the Bulldogs outscored the Banana Slugs by 11 in the final 20 minutes.
Fresno State, coming off its 21-win season last year, travels down to Malibu to face the Pepperdine Waves next Friday at 7 p.m. The `Dogs home opener lies on Monday, Nov. 17 when they play host to Bristol University in the Save Mart Center at 7 p.m.
"Be Bold" - 940 AM ESPN Radio is the home of the Fresno State men's basketball team.
