Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
CSU Bakersfield
Bulldogs power to a 70-55 win over CSU Bakersfield
12/5/2017 9:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Fresno State won its eighth straight home game behind a strong second half effort as the 'Dogs earned a 15-point win over 2017 NIT semifinalist CSU Bakersfield.
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With the 15-point win, Fresno State (7-2) extended its home winning streak to eight consecutive home victories and has also won nine straight nonconference home wins. Fresno State will enter Saturday's road game at Cal Poly on five-game winning streak.
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Fresno State had five players in double-figures – led by junior guard Deshon Taylor, who had 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists.  Bulldogs' sophomore forward Bryson Williams posted his fourth career double-double (third this season) with 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds plus three blocks, while senior center Terrell Carter II scored 16 points off the bench.
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CSU Bakersfield (4-6), who reached the NIT Final Four last season, was largely stymied by the Bulldogs' relentless defensive effort, especially in the second half. Fresno State limited CSUB to just 32.7 percent shooting from the field.
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How it happened: After building a 28-26 halftime lead during a rugged and physically bruising first half, Fresno State began the second half by scoring 11 straight points to fuel a 16-1 run, which gave the Bulldogs a 44-27 lead over the Roadrunners with 13:14 left in the game.
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Fresno State continued to attack the Roadrunners' pressure, pounded the paint (30-14) and took control of the glass (41-28). The Bulldogs outrebounded the Roadrunners 29-11 in the second half.
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As a team, Fresno State outshot CSUB 43.8 percent to 32.7 percent for the game, and the 'Dogs adjusted to multiple defensive fronts presented by the 'Runners.
Player Notes:
Deshon Taylor – 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
The junior guard scored in double-digits for the ninth time this season (25th time in his career) … recorded season-high seven rebounds … led the Bulldogs in scoring for the fourth time this season … has recorded at least one assist in nine games this season ... fifth game this season with at least nine made free throws.
Bryson Williams – 10 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks
The sophomore forward recorded a career-high 13 rebounds … recorded a double-double for the third time this season, fourth time in his career … scored in double-digits for the seventh time this season, 19th time in his career … lead the Bulldogs in rebounds for the third time this season.
Terrell Carter II – 16 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
The senior center scored a season-high 16 points … scored in double-figures for the third time this season, 13th time in his career … was 5-for-7 from the field and 6-for-8 at the free throw line.
Team Notes:
- Fresno State now leads the overall series against CSU Bakersfield 10-5 (overall), 8-2 (Fresno) and 6-0 (at Save Mart Center).
- Fresno State has won five straight games, and eight straight home games.
- Fresno State improved 45-7 overall at home since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 22-3 record against non-conference opponents.
- Fresno State has won nine consecutive nonconference games.
- Fresno State has recorded 40-plus rebounds three times this season.
- Five or more Bulldogs scored in double-digits for the third time this season.
- Fresno State improved to 13-1, since the start of the 2011-12 season, when five Bulldogs score in double-digits.
- Fresno State outscored CSU Bakersfield in the paint 30-14, the seventh time the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents in the paint this season.
- Fresno State has had a better assist-turnover ratio than its opponents six times this season. The Bulldogs are 6-0 when recording a better assist to turnover ratio.
- Since the start of the 2016-17 season, the Bulldogs are 22-0 when scoring 70 points before their opponents.
Quotes:
Rodney Terry, Fresno State head coach
On the edge on tonight's game…
"It is always a big game for them in terms of being a rival game. It has been a big rival game over the years; we have had some great battles with those guys. In seven years, we have played each other every year. It is a great competitive game; they have built a program that we have a lot of respect for that plays very similar to the way we play. They bring a lot of energy and play hard on defense and we had to turn that around a little bit. We were minus five at the half on the glass, and that was where they beat us at last year. I thought our guys came out in the second half with a lot more attention to detail in that regards."
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On Terrell Carter…
"He is definitely a different looking guy from a year ago. In a year's time, in terms of his condition and moving on the floor, he is looking much better than he ever has since he has been here. He has really worked hard on his free throws; tonight he did a nice job at the line going 6-for-8. He felt good being there. Any time we emphasize putting the ball inside, the big guys have got to be able to make free throws. Both Terrell and Bryson both went to the line with a lot of confidence tonight. I thought Nate Grimes came in and gave us some positive minutes in the post as well. We were in a lot of foul trouble and had to work through some things but I thought our guys kept working the game. We said this was going to be a 40-minute game; it wasn't going to be a game where we knock anybody out. We knew it was going to be a grinder game. Bakersfield plays the same when they are up and when they are down. They play for a full 40 minutes and we knew going in that we were going to have to match that. I thought our guys responded well to that."
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On the team's improvements since early this season…
"We have definitely gotten better with our communication. We really challenged the guys to bring energy and activity every game. We wanted them to really work hard on the communication piece, which has really improved on the defensive end of the floor. We have obviously improved our free throws. We have put a lot of time into that and our guys have done a nice job shooting free throws like I thought we would early in the year and like I think we will all year. Those are probably the biggest things that we have improved on. There are things that we can continue to get better with in this team and there is still a high ceiling for this team as well."
Deshon Taylor, Fresno State junior guard
On a competing hard against the Roadrunners…
"We watched film from last year and they really destroyed us at their house. We had to make sure that we set the tone today. I feel like there was a lot of tension there in the game but we just had to hold our composure and keep playing the game."
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On the Bulldogs' five-game winning streak…
"(It starts with) Defense. Everybody is playing hard on the defensive end, getting steals and making sure to block off their man getting into transition. That is kind of our game; trying to get out and push the ball and as long as we get stops we can do that."
Ray Bowles, Fresno State senior guard
On the Bulldogs' halftime adjustments...
"We just had to come out and play hard. Even though we were up a little bit, we were losing the rebound war. We ended up wining +13 on the glass so I think that was a big difference from the first half. It really was just the rebounding battle."
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On the energy he brings to the team…
"I try to take pride in it and do whatever I can do help the team win. I know I didn't have a good first half so I knew I had to come out in the second half and play harder to bring the team as much energy as I can and that's what I did."Â
Up Next: Fresno State will continue its 10-game Golden State stretch with a road game at Cal Poly on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT before returning to the Save Mart Center for a five-game homestand, which starts on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. PT when the 'Dogs host Arkansas-Pine Bluff.  Fresno State will also host Oregon on Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. PT.
Tickets are on sale for the Dec. 13 home game vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 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.
"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.
