Bulldogs fall to No. 10/11 Wolf Pack, 74-64

Saturday, January 12

Fresno, Calif.

5 p.m. PT

Fresno State

12-4, 3-1MW

No. 10/11 Nevada

16-1, 3-1MW

Nevada

Fresno State

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Bulldogs fall to No. 10/11 Wolf Pack, 74-64

1/12/2019 9:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Fresno State redshirt senior guard Braxton Huggins scored a team-high 25 points in the Bulldogs’ 74-64 loss to No. 10/11 Nevada. The ’Dogs next play at Boise State on Jan. 19 before returning home to face San Diego State on Jan. 22. Tickets start at $15 for all remaining home games.

By: Stephen Trembley / Director of New Media

FRESNO, Calif. --- The Fresno State men's basketball team stayed within striking distance for the most of the night before falling 74-64 to the No. 10/11-ranked Nevada Wolf Pack in front a season-high 9,586 fans at the Save Mart Center.

Fresno State (12-4, 3-1 Mountain West) showed many moments of competing well with Nevada (16-1, 3-1 MW), who got a game-high 27 points from Caleb Martin, along with 19 points and 16 rebounds from Jordan Caroline. Martin and Caroline are two of 25 players in the nation on the John R. Wooden Award midseason watch list.

The Bulldogs' redshirt senior guard Braxton Huggins scored a team-high 25 points to finish the week with 58 points over the course of two games.

Deshon Taylor added 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Nate Grimes posted his seventh career double-double (15 points/11 rebounds) for Fresno State.

How it happened: Nevada jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead in the first three minutes, but the Bulldogs absorbed that opening shot and found itself with a 19-17 lead after Huggins hit his three first-half 3-pointers in the first six minutes of the half.

After a dry offensive spell for most of the next eight minutes, Fresno State had a 25-22 lead on Nevada. The Wolf Pack then pounded out a 9-0 run before Taylor drained 3-pointers on back-to-back possession to even the score at 31-31.

Nevada then scored six of the next seven points for a 37-32 at the break, which was just Fresno State's third halftime deficit this season.

In the second half, Fresno State closed to within three, but Nevada was able to capitalize during key possessions and keep the Bulldogs at bay – largely by continuing to control the offensive glass and taking care of the basketball.

For the game, the Wolf Pack outscored the 'Dogs 27-3 in second chance points as Nevada had a 17-7 advantage (+10) in offensive rebounds. The Pack also had a 21-7 advantage in points off turnovers. Both teams made 10 3-pointers.

Quotes:
Justin Hutson, Fresno State head coach
On his thoughts after the game…
"There are positives. There were a lot of positives about the way our guys fought and stayed together. It was great to see the Red Wave out there tonight as well. We did a lot of good things to stay in the game, but it is still a loss at the end of the column."

On playing Nevada tough…
"They are a very experienced group. An adjective for that team is 'tough', mentally and physically. We have a couple dunks and then we get blocked, or we get fouled and make one free throw and Nevada would come down and finish. That is a little discouraging but credit to our guys because they kept fighting. Nevada had a lot of big plays and hats off to them because they played tough."

On the buzz of the Red Wave…
"I thought it was a nice buzz in the Save Mart Center tonight and it was great. I grew up as such a big fan of the Red Wave. I did sense a good buzz tonight. When the No. 10 team in the country comes in and you have that nice of a buzz then that is great. Hopefully we can have more games like this to make us tough to beat at home."

On facing Nevada in Reno next month…
"I told our guys that they have done that to a lot of people over the last few years. I have played that group (Jordan Caroline and his class) for a while. They are big and tough. We could have been better. We work on rebounds and boxing out, and we are a decent rebounding team for our size. We just needed to be a little bit more physical tonight."

Player Notes:
Braxton Huggins – 25 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist

Scored a team-high 25 points (third game this season with at least 25 points)
Scored in double-figures for the 14th time this season

Deshon Taylor – 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block

Scored in double-figures for the 10th time this season (third consecutive game)
Dished out four assists (eight straight games with at least four assists)
Moved up to sixth all-time at Fresno State for career free throw attempts (479)

Nate Grimes – 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks

Scored in double-figures for the ninth time this season
Recorded double-figure rebounds for the sixth time this season
Recorded his fourth double-double of the season (seventh of his career)
Led the team in rebounds and blocks

Team Notes:

After the first two weeks of Mountain West play, Fresno State is one of four teams tied for the most league wins with three conference victories. Boise State, No. 10 Nevada and UNLV also each have three MW wins so far this season.
Fresno State has made at least six 3-pointers in every game this season. The Bulldogs are now 24-4 in their last 28 games making at least 10 3pt-FGs.
Fresno State is now 19-71 all-time against AP Top 25 teams.
Fresno State is now 15-44 all-time against AP Top 15 teams.
Fresno State is now 5-28 all-time against AP Top 10 teams.
Fresno State has trailed at halftime in two of its four losses this season.
Fresno State is now 60-14 overall at home since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 29-8 record against Mountain West opponents in that stretch.
Fresno State is now 49-11 overall at home since the start of the 2015-16 season.

Up Next: Fresno State will travel to play at Boise State on Saturday Jan. 19 at 2:30 p.m. PT and then next host San Diego State on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. PT.

"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.