Sizzling Seven! Fresno State crushes UT-Martin 93-53 for 7th straight win

Saturday, December 22

Fresno, Calif.

4 p.m. PT

Fresno State

9-2

Tennessee-Martin

5-5

UT-Martin

Fresno State

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Sizzling Seven! Fresno State crushes UT-Martin 93-53 for 7th straight win

12/22/2018 6:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

The sizzling hot Fresno State men’s basketball team grounded the UT-Martin Skyhawks to extend the Bulldogs’ winning streak to seven consecutive victories. The ’Dogs next host Utah Valley University (10-4) next Saturday, Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. PT. Tickets start at $10.

By: Stephen Trembley / Director of New Media

FRESNO, Calif. --- The Fresno State men's basketball team cruised to a 93-53 victory over the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks on Saturday at the Save Mart Center.

Fresno State (9-2) is off to its best start in 12 seasons when opening the 2006-07 season with a 13-2 record.

The Bulldogs have won seven straight games and will next play when Fresno State wraps up a seven-game homestand against Utah Valley University (10-4) next Saturday, Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center.

Fresno State senior guard Braxton Huggins scored a team-high 20 points, while junior guard New Williams added 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Noah Blackwell posting 12 points and eight of the Bulldogs' season-high 25 assists.

How it happened: With the game tied 16-16, Fresno State used a 23-8 run to pull ahead 39-24 late in the first half – a run that included three of Huggins' six 3-pointers in the game.

Williams drained one of his four 3-pointers in the contest in the final minute of the first half to give the Bulldogs a 46-32 lead over the Skyhawks at the break.

The game was never in doubt the rest of the way as the 'Dogs opened the second half on a 13-3 run and later held UTM scoreless for a stretch of nearly eight minutes when Fresno State rattled off a decisive 20-0 surge for a 79-40 lead.

The Bulldogs continued its defensive and offensive onslaught down the stretch and Fresno State led by as many 44 when Nate Grimes threw down a powerful dunk on an assist from Williams with just over two minutes remaining in the rout. Grimes finished with 14 points and six rebounds.

Fresno State had 25 assists on 36 made field goals and just nine turnovers, while outscoring UTM 29-12 in points off turnovers. The Bulldogs had a season-high 14 3-pointers, along with 11 steals and six blocks. Fresno State freshman forward Aguir Agau netted a season-high 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting from the field.

Quotes:
Justin Hutson, Fresno State head coach
On the team chemistry…
"We have a good group of young men and that is the bottom line. It has been tough because a lot of these guys haven't been on the floor before so for them to see what I am about and me to understand what they are about, is a partnership. I am steering the ship and putting the rules out, but it is a partnership and we are doing this together. It has been far from seamless but I like where we are at because the guys are coming in with a good attitude and good effort and they are trying to get better."

On the shot selection tonight…
"If you have somebody like Braxton Huggins or New Williams going, then you need to get them a shot, but we also want to be able to share the ball and get inside out. If we have guys that are open and can shoot it, then shoot it. If not, then get it to the next guy or get it inside. We are working a little bit more on getting the ball inside and it showed in the second half."

On Utah Valley…
"This is probably the best challenge coming in. Cal was a good challenge and Weber State was on a roll when they came in, but Utah Valley is a really good team at the top of the WAC. The guys need to go in and focus on Christmas but the staff needs to watch some film and see what Utah Valley is bringing in so we can be ready to practice when we get back."

New Williams, Fresno State redshirt junior guard
On the offense so far this season…
"We are having a lot of fun. Our offense is stemming from our defense. Coach Hutson focuses on playing hard on the defensive end and making sure we get the stops. That is what drives our offense and keeps us in the high scoring numbers during the game."

On winning seven straight…
"We feel it, but we try not to pay too much attention to it. We try to take each game as a challenge that is in front of us. We try to not let any game behind us or in front of us take away from the game that is at hand. Coach always says 'next play' and that is what we follow as a team on the court, every play and every possession."

On his confidence…
"When it came to this season, I was ready. I had that 'when I get my opportunity, I am going to be ready' confidence coming in to the season. I fought for it. Coach is about defense and we know that is how we are going to get on the floor. That is what we all focus on and we know that defense leads to offense. Coach gives me confidence every day to be a better defender, and that better defense translates into better offense."

Aguir Agau, Fresno State freshman guard
On getting the win…
"It felt good. I just came out and tried to play at the pace and play our offense. Coach always says 'to get on the floor, you have to play defense' and I feel like that is what we do as a collective unit."

On blending as a team…
"As far as working with this coaching staff, there is something I can take away and learn from every day. I try and keep an open mind every day when I go into practice because I know that they are great coaches and I can trust them, they know what they are doing. I come in and try to have an open mind, do what they tell me and learn from it."

Player Notes:
Braxton Huggins – 20 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

Scored in double-figures for the 11th consecutive game.
Led the team in scoring for the fifth time this season

New Williams – 19 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steals

Tied his career-high with 19 points
Scored in double-figures for the seventh time this season
Grabbed a career-high seven rebounds
Dished a career-high five assists
Had a career-high two blocked shots

Team Notes:

Fresno State improved to 59-12 overall at home since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 31-4 record versus nonconference opponents.
Fresno State has won 18 of its last 19 non-conference home games, including eight consecutive non-conference home wins.
Fresno State is also now 72-18 overall at home since the start of the 2013-14 season.
Fresno State improved to 175-74 (70.3 percent) all-time at the Save Mart Center.
Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson is now one of four head coaches in program history (out of 19) to start his career with a 9-2 record or better. The three other coaches to start 8-2 or better are: Ed Gregory (9-2), Boyd Grant (9-2) and Ray Lopes (9-2).
Fresno State is in the middle of a 12-game stretch of playing exclusively in the state of California. Fresno State is 8-1 in the first nine games of the Golden State run.
Fresno State has made at least seven 3-pointers in every game this season. The Bulldogs are 21-3 in the last 23 games making at least 10 3pt-FGs.
Fresno State is 42-3 in its last 45 games when shooting at least 50 percent from the field.
Fresno State has scored at least 92 points in each of its last three games - the first time the Bulldogs have done so since 2001 (third time this century).

Up Next: Fresno State will host Utah Valley University on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. PT inside the Save Mart Center. Tickets for the game start at $10 at the Save Mart Center Box Office and www.ticketmaster.com.

"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.