Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Pacific
'Dogs Fall in Final Seconds at Pacific
12/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2014
By Stephen Trembley
strembley@csufresno.edu
www.GoBulldogs.com
STOCKTON, Calif. - The fight in the Fresno State men's basketball team stole the spotlight when the game was on the line, but the Bulldogs' big comeback bid came up just short in a tough 71-68 loss at Pacific in the final seconds on Saturday night.
For a short-handed Fresno State squad, the Bulldogs showed hard-nosed grit in completely erasing a 15-point first-half deficit when the Bulldogs' team captain Marvelle Harris hit a deep 3-pointer with 17 seconds left to even the score at 68-68.
But just seconds later, the dagger was delivered by Dulani Robinson's high-arching 3-pointer that danced through the net with only four seconds on the clock.
"Earlier in the year - without a primary ballhandler - we would have kind of folded a little bit and not been in a position to win the game," Fresno State head coach Rodney Terry said. "We battled and they made a lucky shot at the end. You have to give them credit - they made the shot. We're disappointed obviously with the outcome, but we'll come back and be better for it."
Fresno State (4-8) had a career-high by junior guard Julian Lewis, who scored a career-high 29 points, that helped fuel the comeback. The Bulldogs trailed by as many as 15 in the first half when Pacific surged in front 31-16, but the 'Dogs scored the last eight points of the opening half to cut its deficit to 31-24 at halftime.
The battle continued into the second half as Fresno State worked the game and chipped away at the Tigers' lead.
A 6-0 spurt by Pacific early in the second half pushed its lead into double digits, but Fresno State whittled its deficit down to three on Julien Lewis' jumper with 57 seconds left, and then tied it at 68 on Harris' long jumper. On the ensuing possession Robinson drilled the trey and Fresno was unable to get off a tying attempt.
Robinson finished with 11 points. Gabriel Aguirre led Pacific with 15 points, T.J. Wallace had 12 and David Taylor added 11.
Up Next
Fresno State will be off for the Christmas holiday and return to practice on Dec. 26. The Bulldogs' next game will be Sunday, Dec. 28 at 1 p.m. when Fresno State plays Saint Katherine College on Kids' Day - an adult ticket will also allow an unlimited number of children 12 and under to come to the game for free.
The Bulldogs open Mountain West play at New Mexico on New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and 940 AM ESPN Radio.
"Be Bold!" -- Mini-plans for the 2014-15 Fresno State men's basketball season are available starting at $36 through the Bulldog Ticket Office at the Save Mart Center, over the phone at 559-278-DOGS and online at www.GoBulldogs.com.
