Bulldogs push win streak to 7 with 78-52 win over UAPB

Wednesday, December 13

Fresno, Calif.

7 p.m. PT

Fresno State

Arkansas Pine Bluff

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Bulldogs push win streak to 7 with 78-52 win over UAPB

12/13/2017 9:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Fresno State (9-2) played well on both ends of the floor in its final tune-up before hosting Oregon on Saturday at 3 p.m. PT. Tickets to Saturday’s game, which will feature the Bulldogs surpassing the 2 million fan mark at the Save Mart Center, start at $15.

By: Stephen Trembley / Director of New Media

FRESNO, Calif. --- The Fresno State men's basketball team picked up its seventh straight victory in beating the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions 78-52 on Wednesday night inside the Save Mart Center.

Fresno State (9-2) will next host Oregon (8-3), who played in last season's Final Four, on Saturday at 3 p.m. PT.

The showdown between the Bulldogs and the Ducks will feature major giveaways throughout the game with tickets still available starting at $15 through www.ticketmaster.com and the Save Mart Center Box Office. Fans can also call the Bulldog Ticket Office at 559-278-DOGS (and then press "1") if they are interested in group tickets or mini-plans, which include Saturday's game vs. Oregon.

How it happened: For the fourth consecutive game, Fresno State had five double-figure scorers with senior center Terrell Carter II scoring a season-high 19 points (8-for-10 FG) off the bench.

Bulldogs' junior Sam Bittner added 15 points while making a career-high five 3-pointers, including a perfect 3-for-3 mark in the first half.

Fresno State pressured UAPB from the start – jumping out to a 17-4 lead, which the 'Dogs extended to 17 later in the first half before taking a 38-25 advantage into halftime.

In the second half, the Bulldogs' dominance on both the offensive and defensive ends continued en route to as large as a 30-point lead while closing out the home win during Finals Week.

As a team, Fresno State won the battle in the paint 34-20 and dished out 17 assists on 28 made field goals, including a career-high seven assists recorded by Bulldogs' senior guard Jahmel Taylor.

Player Notes:
Sam Bittner – 15 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals
The junior guard had a career-high 15 points … made a career-high five 3-pointers … was 5-for-7 from the field … tied his career-high with four assists … scored in double-figures for the third time in his career, third time this season … Fresno State also improved to 17-3 when Bittner starts.

Terrell Carter II – 19 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist
The senior center had a season-high 19 points … scored in double-figures for the fourth time this season, 15th time in his career … has scored at least 10 points in four consecutive games … was 8-for-10 from the field.

Jahmel Taylor – 15 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal
The senior guard recorded a season-high seven assists … scored in double-figures for the eighth time this season, 31st time in his career … recorded the second-most rebounds … logged a season-high and team-best 37 minutes.

Team Notes:

Fresno State improved to 46-7 overall (86.8 percent) at home since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 23-3 record against nonconference opponents in that stretch.
Fresno State will play its next four games at the Save Mart Center. This will finish a 10-game Golden State stretch. The Bulldogs are 6-0 to start the span and have won 12 consecutive games played in the Golden State.
Fresno State's 12-game winning streak when playing in the state of California is tied with UCLA for the longest active win streak of any Division I team from California when playing in the Golden State
With the win, Fresno State is now on a seven-game winning streak (second time in Terry Era).
Fresno State has now won 13 straight home games played on a Wednesday.
Fresno State has now won nine consecutive home games and 10 straight nonconference home games.
Fresno State outrebounded its opponent for the 10th time (out of 11 games) this season.
With a 54.9 field goal shooting percentage in tonight's win over UAPB, Fresno State has now made at least 50 percent of its field goals in five of the last seven games.
Fresno State has now won 29 consecutive games when scoring 70 points before its opponent.
Fresno State has scored at least 75 points in nine of 11 games this season.
Fresno State is 5-0 this season when five or more Bulldogs score in double-figures.
Fresno State is 8-0 this season in games decided by 10+ points.
Fresno State is 8-0 this season when outscoring its opponent in the paint.
Fresno State is 3-0 this season when holding opponents to less than 40% field goal percentage.
Fresno State is 13-1 when recording a 50%-plus field goal percentage, since the start of the 2016-17 season.

Quotes:
Fresno State head coach Rodney Terry
On the offensive performance against UAPB's defense…
"We knew that we were going to have to play against zone the whole time. We have always been a program that is excited about going up against a zone defense. The biggest thing about going against a zone defense for 40 minutes is that you can't get in the trap of selling - you still have to try to attack on your terms and try to own the paint. We always want to try to establish ourselves inside-out and I thought our guys really tried hard to do that."

On the pace of the offense tonight…
"We definitely talked about the ball not sticking. Against zone, that ball needs to really move. You have to be a willing passer. We placed a high emphasis on trying to get the ball inside. We didn't want to come out and make it a pick-up game and shoot a lot of jump shots and not establish ourselves in the paint. I thought our guys did a really nice job of looking for our inside guys, and I thought our inside guys did their job for a better part of the game."

On balanced scoring…
"We have had really good balanced scoring over the past four or five games. In particular, our big guys have really played well over the last four ball games for us. Our guards have carried us for a better part of the year. Any time you can have that balanced scoring, it really helps your cause."

On having Oregon play at the Save Mart Center…
"We have earned it. We went over there two years in a row and played against, arguably, their best team in school history. We have a great deal of respect for their program; they have a great coach who has been highly successful. We are really excited about the opportunity to play a team who can contend for their conference every year."

On where the team is at…
"I don't think we have played our best basketball yet this year, on both ends of the floor. We are still learning to play hard and we are still learning to try to play for a full 40 minutes. If we have everybody on the same page for a full 40 minutes. I think our team has a high ceiling in terms of having the chance to be really good. We are still a work in progress. I do like this group; we have good kids who try to do the right thing on and off the court. They come in and try to do the things we ask of them from a basketball standpoint as well. There is a lot of growth for this team."

Fresno State guard Sam Bittner
On hosting Oregon on Saturday…
"My first two years here at Fresno State, we went and played them at Oregon and they were two pretty close games. We fought really hard and a couple of things could have gone here and there, but they ended up beating us. To finally have them come here to Fresno State means a lot to us, and a lot to the community, to really make up for those two losses and show that we are a big time program here in the Mountain West."

Fresno State guard Ray Bowles
On facing a Final Four team at home…
"It feels great. I never had that type of team caliber come to my home court. It is going to be good. We are on a roll here at home and I think we can definitely continue that, not just for Saturday but for the rest of the season as well."

On Terrell Carter's performance…
"Terrell is on a roll right now. I think it is just all confidence, its confidence from since we got back from our trip in Mexico. His confidence has been sky high and I think that is what has been carrying him to have the games he's been having."

Up Next: Fresno State will host the Oregon Ducks on Saturday at 3 p.m. PT. Tickets start at $15 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.

"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.