Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
2-0
CSUN
1-1
Bulldogs defeat CSUN 89-73 in Cancun Challenge opener
11/13/2017 9:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Fresno State senior guard Jaron Hopkins posted his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Bulldogs won their fifth straight home game.
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Fresno State senior guard Jaron Hopkins posted his second career double-double (first this season) as he had 17 points on 8-for-12 shooting, and added 10 rebounds and two steals. Senior guard Jahmel Taylor added 18 points on six 3-pointers (6-for-7 3FGA) and junior guard Deshon Taylor also had 18 points with four assists.Â
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Bulldogs' sophomore forward Bryson Williams chipped in 15 points and six rebounds, while redshirt sophomore forward Nate Grimes had five points and five blocks.
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The game was broadcast on the Mountain West Network and was also the first live game stream ever on the NCAA March Madness Facebook and Twitter pages. Fresno State will also be featured by those NCAA March Madness social media pages when the 'Dogs host Montana State on Nov. 26 at 12 p.m. PT.
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How it happened: With the score knotted at 25-25, Fresno State went on a 14-0 run to take a 39-25 lead and the 'Dogs continued to pound its way to a 50-34 halftime lead. Fresno State led by as many as 20 points in the second half.Â
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For the game, Fresno State shot a toasty 62.5 percent (35-for-56) from the field and 58.8 percent (10-for-17) from beyond the 3-point arc.  The 'Dogs asserted themselves inside the paint by outscoring CSUN 48-24 in the key.
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The Bulldogs also had seven blocks, including five by sophomore forward Nate Grimes, and for the large part, dictated the pace of the game, especially later in the first half and throughout the second half.
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Player Notes:
Deshon Taylor – 18 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds
The junior guard had a season-high 18 points … scored in double-digits for the second time this season … went 3-for-4 from the free throw line … has recorded at least four assists for the second consecutive game … logged a season-high 29 minutes.
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Jahmel Taylor – 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
The senior guard tied his career-high for most 3-pointers with six … went 6-for-7 from behind the arch … recorded a season-high 18 points … scored in double-digits for the second time this season … recorded a season-high 26 points off the bench for the Bulldogs … recorded at least one steal for the second consecutive game.
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Jaron Hopkins – 17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
The senior guard recorded a season-high 17 points and 10 rebounds … recorded his first double-double of the season (second of his career) … scored in double-digits for the second time this season … has recorded at least two steals in two consecutive games … logged a season-high 29 minutes.
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Team Notes:
- Fresno State improved to 42-7 (.857) overall at home since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 20-3 record against nonconference opponents in that stretch.
- Fresno State improved to 31-4 overall at home since the start of the 2015-16 season.
- Fresno State has won 14 of its last 15 home games.
- Fresno State is now 20-3 when leading at half and 6-1 when scoring 80 or more points, since the start of the 2016-17 season.
- Fresno State is 8-1 when recording a 50 percent or better field goal percentage.
- The Bulldogs scored 10 or more 3-pointers for the second time this season.
- Fresno State shot a season-best 10-for-17 (58.8) from beyond the arch.
- Fresno State had four Bulldogs score in double-digits.
Quotes:
Rodney Terry, Fresno State head coach
On how smart the Bulldogs played tonight…
"We have been working hard in November to try and establish an identity and play with urgency to start games and to start halves. We are really trying to set the tone defensively and try to sit down and guard. Tonight was a great game for us in terms of the matchup with Northridge. We knew they were going to try to match us and we knew we still needed to improve and get better. We knew they were going to be a team who pushed hard in transition and getting back on defense. The one-on-one guard was big for us. We knew that we were going to do a good job guarding their actions and make their guy take the shot on our terms and not on their terms. For the last part of that, we needed to block out so we can get into transition faster."
On how pleased he was with how the team was sharing the ball…
"We knew this was going to be a high possession game. For two ball games in a row now, we have taken care of the basketball in terms of low turnover counts. We had seven tonight, but we probably should've ended up with only four. We did a good job of valuing and taking care of the basketball, that is an emphasis that we have placed for our team this season. Our assist-to-turnover ratio wasn't too good for us last year and it cost us some big ball games. Going on the road and facing an SEC opponent will be a great big challenge for us."
On the team being in rhythm this early in the season…
"The thing that we try to stress to our guys most this time of the year is to really (focus) on the other end of the court, playing with a lot of energy and working hard. We challenge them to really communicate well on the other end and offense will come easy. So many players who play this game have a hard time trying to turn it on and off, even the best players on both ends of the floor get lost in the defensive end and the offense comes easy. We have a number of different guys that can score. They are doing a decent job at shooting the basketball but we will get better as the season goes along. We are making sure that the ball is not sticking and it is going side-to-side throughout the play. Those guys do a great job, they are very unselfish in moving the basketball around. I think we can have a team that moves the ball and has about 18 to 19 assists a night. That is what we are trying to work towards as the season goes along."
On the team's defense…
"I think that is a good thing to show our guys that you can be really good on offense but you need defense as well if you want to win some championships. Our guys are working hard and we are continuing to get better and better as it goes along in terms of getting consecutive stops and being more consistent defensively. I thought that we were okay tonight, we weren't great throughout the stretch of the game. I thought we were better off the first night out. We just need to out more stretches together so that we can play for a full 40 minutes and not trade any baskets."
On Nate Grimes…
"We need his motor and his activity. We need his energy in that position because he is a different change up when he gets in there for Terrell Carter at the five. He came over and altered some shots, blocked some shots and rebounded the ball. It was a much better outing tonight in terms of a motor and playing with a motor and trying to affect the ballgame. He gave us a great lift on that end of the floor."
Jaron Hopkins, Fresno State senior guard
On how he felt about his dunks today...
"It felt good, it is always a good feeling for me when I can play above ground a little bit. It is a fast break play and got an opportunity to dunk it so I am going to dunk it when I get the chance to."
On how different this year feels from last year...
"I would say that we are all just excited about playing defense this year. We are picking up 94Â feet and it is not always easy but everybody is involved with what we are doing defensively and offensively. We all know what we are capable of, so just playing to our strengths, getting out and transitioning is working for us right now."
Jahmel Taylor, Fresno State senior guard
On his three-point shooting tonight....
"I think it was just preparation. This whole week we have been talking about being prepared for each team we play. My brother challenged me when I was on the phone with him to at least make four tonight, he said I had to make a minimum of four so I kind of did that for him. The team found me in the right spots and I was ready to shoot each time."
On how this team feels different from last year....
"I would just say it is the energy. Each guy is extremely excited each time we get on the floor. We are starting the games off a lot better which is allowing people to come in off the bench to have that same energy for us on the floor. If they fall off, you can see it decrease and it affects how the team is playing. So each guy is keeping a high motor. It is just trying to do everything we can do to keep building and keep everyone involved to keep being a good team."
Up Next: Fresno State visits Arkansas on Friday at 5 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3/WatchESPN and 940 AM ESPN Radio. The Bulldogs then head to Cancun, Mexico to play Evansville on Nov. 21 and either Louisiana Tech or George Mason on Nov. 22 in the Cancun Challenge.
Fresno State's next home game is Nov. 26 at 12 p.m. PT when the 'Dogs host the MSU Bobcats in their final of four games this season part of the Cancun Challenge. Tickets are on sale starting at just $10 through www.Ticketmaster.com and the Save Mart Center Box Office.
A limited number of single-game center section lower bowl tickets (Sections 109, 110, 122 and 123) are also available for $40.
Upcoming Promotions – Nov. 26 vs. Montana State (7 p.m. tip off)
- Jr. Bulldogs Kids Club Day
- Buy one adult ticket, get unlimited kids in free
- Kids get free cotton candy
- Jr. Bulldog Kids club activities throughout the game
- Bounce house
- Face painter
- Poster making station
- A dunk contest between Jr. Bulldogs at Halftime
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