Fresno State Athletics
Friday, November 3
Fresno, Calif.
7 p.m PT
Fresno State
79
vs
39
UC Merced (Exhibition)
1
2
F
UC Merced
19
20
39
Fresno State
34
45
79
Photo by: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
’Dogs defeat UC Merced 79-39 in final exhibition
11/3/2017 9:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Next up: The Fresno State men’s basketball team will tip off the 2017-18 regular season at home on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. PT when the ’Dogs host UC Santa Cruz with tickets available starting at $17 through www.ticketmaster.com and the Save Mart Center.
FRESNO, Calif. --- The Fresno State men's basketball team dominated from start to finish in a wire-to-wire 79-39 exhibition win over the UC Merced Bobcats on Friday night at the Save Mart Center.
Fresno State senior guard Jahmel Taylor scored a game-high 20 points, while making six 3-pointers (6-for-9 3FGA). The Bulldogs' defense held the Bobcats to shooting just 24.5 percent from the floor.
This was the third of the three exhibition games on Fresno State's schedule before tipping off the 2017-18 regular season on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. PT vs. UC Santa Cruz. All exhibition contests, including individual and team statistics do not count toward the Bulldogs' overall record or season statistics and records.
How it happened:
The Bulldogs swarmed the Bobcats defensively and Fresno State pounded the paint by zipping crisp passes and attacking the rim.
Fresno State built a 17-5 lead over UC Merced just past the midway point of the first half and the 'Dogs led the Bobcats 34-19 at halftime.
In the second half, Fresno State went on a 20-0 run at one point to extend what was a 49-28 lead to 69-28 over a five-plus minute stretch.
For the game, Fresno State outscored UC Merced 32-12 in the paint, 29-8 in points off turnovers and 12-0 in transition.
Throughout the contest, Fresno State took advantage of its athleticism and skill on both ends of the floor with the Bulldogs' gritty defensive toughness and efficient offensive execution shining all night.
Player Notes:
Jahmel Taylor – 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
The senior guard was 6-for-9 from the three-point line and 2-for-2 from the free throw line … scored 11 of his 20 points in the second half … made back-to-back 3-pointers to spark a 20-0 run in the second half.
Bryson Williams – 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block
The sophomore forward was also 6-for-9 from the field … led the Bulldogs with 10 first-half points.
Terrell Carter II – 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
The senior center was also 5-for-7 from the field.
Quotes:
Head Coach Rodney Terry on what he has learned through three exhibitions…
"At this time of year, we are really trying to challenge ourselves to establish an identity. It is not so much about the opponents that we play. It is about us having a staple for what we are doing on defense and a staple for what we are trying to do on offense. We need to sit down and really play with a lot of energy on defense and realize that those are points that are going to do a lot for us this season."
On limiting turnovers…
"It is something that we have stressed all spring and summer. We knew that it was something that we needed to build on a year ago. This is a very selfless group of guys; they are a team that shares the basketball quite a bit. We should be a 16-17-assist team every night. We really challenge those guys to be a better team overall in regards to assists and turnovers this year."
On areas he wants to see the team grow in throughout the season…
"We want to be a really good defensive team this year. We are stressing really hard on guarding hard on defense. All around the country, teams are working hard on getting their defense to train hard. That has been something that we spend a lot of time on early in the year to get ready for the rest of the season. I think it is an area you have got to try and get better at. Everything is on the defensive side for me. We will figure out ways to score the basketball, but we are stressing the importance of making stops and getting the defense set on that end of the court."
Senior Guard Jahmel Taylor on his performance (making six 3-pointers)…
"It felt pretty good. I was just excited to play defense tonight and the shots just came to me. I was excited to play with my team and get as many stops as we can. The threes came easy to me because the team was moving the ball and I got an open look. I was happy with making the shots but I was more happy with our defense and how we played today."
On holding them to 39 points…
"I think we were really focused on defense tonight. We really did well with our scout and paid a lot of attention in practice, so when we got to the game, we understood what they were running and what spots we needed to be at."
On the team's progress…
"I think the team is constantly excited about learning. Each game we try to improve and get our defense better and better. As we get along during the season, we know it is going to be tough. We need to gel now so that when we get in to those really tough games, we understand each other and we won't have any problems with communication."
Up Next:
Fresno State will tip off the regular season on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. PT when the Bulldogs host the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs. All veterans and active duty military get free admission to the Nov. 10 season and home opener with valid military ID on gameday at the Save Mart Center Box Office.
Lower bowl single-game tickets are on sale starting at $17, while a limited number of center section Arena Builder seats will be available on a single-game basis this season for $40 per seat in Sections 109, 110, 122 and 123.
Season ticket packages and mini-plans are currently on sale through the Bulldog Ticket Office at the northeast corner of the Save Mart Center or by calling 559-278-DOGS (and then pressing "1"). Season ticket packages start at $149 while six-game mini plans start as low as $78 and group outings available starting at $8 per ticket.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Fresno State senior guard Jahmel Taylor scored a game-high 20 points, while making six 3-pointers (6-for-9 3FGA). The Bulldogs' defense held the Bobcats to shooting just 24.5 percent from the floor.
This was the third of the three exhibition games on Fresno State's schedule before tipping off the 2017-18 regular season on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. PT vs. UC Santa Cruz. All exhibition contests, including individual and team statistics do not count toward the Bulldogs' overall record or season statistics and records.
How it happened:
The Bulldogs swarmed the Bobcats defensively and Fresno State pounded the paint by zipping crisp passes and attacking the rim.
Fresno State built a 17-5 lead over UC Merced just past the midway point of the first half and the 'Dogs led the Bobcats 34-19 at halftime.
In the second half, Fresno State went on a 20-0 run at one point to extend what was a 49-28 lead to 69-28 over a five-plus minute stretch.
For the game, Fresno State outscored UC Merced 32-12 in the paint, 29-8 in points off turnovers and 12-0 in transition.
Throughout the contest, Fresno State took advantage of its athleticism and skill on both ends of the floor with the Bulldogs' gritty defensive toughness and efficient offensive execution shining all night.
Player Notes:
Jahmel Taylor – 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
The senior guard was 6-for-9 from the three-point line and 2-for-2 from the free throw line … scored 11 of his 20 points in the second half … made back-to-back 3-pointers to spark a 20-0 run in the second half.
Bryson Williams – 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block
The sophomore forward was also 6-for-9 from the field … led the Bulldogs with 10 first-half points.
Terrell Carter II – 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
The senior center was also 5-for-7 from the field.
Quotes:
Head Coach Rodney Terry on what he has learned through three exhibitions…
"At this time of year, we are really trying to challenge ourselves to establish an identity. It is not so much about the opponents that we play. It is about us having a staple for what we are doing on defense and a staple for what we are trying to do on offense. We need to sit down and really play with a lot of energy on defense and realize that those are points that are going to do a lot for us this season."
On limiting turnovers…
"It is something that we have stressed all spring and summer. We knew that it was something that we needed to build on a year ago. This is a very selfless group of guys; they are a team that shares the basketball quite a bit. We should be a 16-17-assist team every night. We really challenge those guys to be a better team overall in regards to assists and turnovers this year."
On areas he wants to see the team grow in throughout the season…
"We want to be a really good defensive team this year. We are stressing really hard on guarding hard on defense. All around the country, teams are working hard on getting their defense to train hard. That has been something that we spend a lot of time on early in the year to get ready for the rest of the season. I think it is an area you have got to try and get better at. Everything is on the defensive side for me. We will figure out ways to score the basketball, but we are stressing the importance of making stops and getting the defense set on that end of the court."
Senior Guard Jahmel Taylor on his performance (making six 3-pointers)…
"It felt pretty good. I was just excited to play defense tonight and the shots just came to me. I was excited to play with my team and get as many stops as we can. The threes came easy to me because the team was moving the ball and I got an open look. I was happy with making the shots but I was more happy with our defense and how we played today."
On holding them to 39 points…
"I think we were really focused on defense tonight. We really did well with our scout and paid a lot of attention in practice, so when we got to the game, we understood what they were running and what spots we needed to be at."
On the team's progress…
"I think the team is constantly excited about learning. Each game we try to improve and get our defense better and better. As we get along during the season, we know it is going to be tough. We need to gel now so that when we get in to those really tough games, we understand each other and we won't have any problems with communication."
Up Next:
Fresno State will tip off the regular season on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. PT when the Bulldogs host the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs. All veterans and active duty military get free admission to the Nov. 10 season and home opener with valid military ID on gameday at the Save Mart Center Box Office.
Lower bowl single-game tickets are on sale starting at $17, while a limited number of center section Arena Builder seats will be available on a single-game basis this season for $40 per seat in Sections 109, 110, 122 and 123.
Season ticket packages and mini-plans are currently on sale through the Bulldog Ticket Office at the northeast corner of the Save Mart Center or by calling 559-278-DOGS (and then pressing "1"). Season ticket packages start at $149 while six-game mini plans start as low as $78 and group outings available starting at $8 per ticket.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Team Stats
UCM
FS
FG%
.245
.490
3FG%
.261
.333
FT%
.700
.759
RB
32
40
TO
24
14
STL
3
11
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
6
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's BasketballG
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