’Dogs earn MW-best 4th road victory with 75-62 win at Wyoming

Wednesday, January 30

Laramie, Wyo.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

15-5, 6-2MW

Wyoming

5-16, 1-7MW

Fresno State

Wyoming

’Dogs earn MW-best 4th road victory with 75-62 win at Wyoming

1/30/2019 8:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Fresno State junior guard New Williams scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Bulldogs to their fourth Mountain West road victory so far this season. Fresno State will next host New Mexico on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT. Tickets start at $15.

By: Stephen Trembley / Director of New Media

LARAMIE, Wyo. --- The Fresno State men's basketball team used a sharp-shooting second-half surge to defeat the Wyoming Cowboys 75-62 on Wednesday evening at Arena-Auditorium.

Fresno State (15-5, 6-2 Mountain West) now has a Mountain West-best four conference road victories and remains in a tie for second place in the MW standings through the first month of league play. The Bulldogs have now won in four of its last five trips to Laramie.

Fresno State junior guard New Williams scored a career-high 24 points on a career-best six 3-pointers, while Nate Grimes added 16 points for the Bulldogs.

Wyoming (5-16, 1-7 MW) was led by Justin James, who had a team-high 21 points with 12 rebounds.

Fresno State will return home to face New Mexico on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT.

How it happened: The teams played to a 33-33 tie at halftime and it stayed tight until the Bulldogs pulled away with a 14-0 run.

With Fresno State leading 54-53 with under eight minutes left to play, the Bulldogs shot their way to a double-digit lead behind four 3-pointers (two by Williams, one by Blackwell and a straightway make by Grimes) and a baseline jumper by Grimes during the key 14-0 surge over a span of 3:36.

The Bulldogs dug in down the stretch to put away the Cowboys.

In the second half, Fresno State shot 50 percent from the field (14-for-28 FGA) and only committed four turnovers.

For the game, Fresno State outscored Wyoming 22-14 in points off turnovers with the Bulldogs forcing the Cowboys to commit 17 turnovers on 11 Fresno State steals.

Quotes:
Justin Hutson, Fresno State head coach
On the Bulldogs' execution against Wyoming's 2-3 zone...
"They're in a zone, so somebody is going to have to make some shots and New stepped up. New, Noah (Blackwell) and Nate (Grimes) stepped up and put that ball in the basket. Aguir and D.T. got into the middle of that zone and kicked it out. It was a good team effort that way. We took care of the ball, didn't make as many mistakes and then some guys hit some big shots. Noah and New hit some big shots, and Nate Grimes, too. We're trying to become more consistent. That's the fight with us."

New Williams, Fresno State junior guard

On scoring a career-high 24 points...
"It feels good. I work on my shot so much. I work so hard to do whatever I can to help my team. Colorado State, it wasn't falling, so I tried to make sure I made up for it at the defensive end. But this game, I just came out the same way I do every night, and it felt good, I got some extra shots up. We've been here just to refocus, lock back in on my shot, on the fundamentals of my shot.

Noah Blackwell, Fresno State redshirt junior guard
On his team's performance...
"I'm proud of my team and how we came up here and we got this 'W,' how we came out in the second half and played a lot better. You know, 'shooters shoot.' That's what Coach Hut says. We have shooters on our team and you just have to believe in your shot and it's probably going to go in. New, that's what he does. He's a knock-down shooter. There were some that were contested and there were some that were wide open, and we know he's going to knock those shots down."

Player Notes:
New Williams – 24 points, 3 rebounds, 9-for-12 FGA, including 6-for-8 3FGA

Scored a career-high 24 points with a career-best six 3-pointers (first career game with 20 or more points).
Made a career-high nine field goals.
Scored in double figures for the 12th time this season.

Nate Grimes – 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, 7-for-9 FGA

Scored in double figures for the 16th time in his career (12th time this season).

Team Notes:

With the win, Fresno State leads the MW with four conference road wins so far this season.
Fresno State has made at least six 3-pointers in every game this season. The Bulldogs are 26-4 in their last 30 games making at least 10 3-pointers.
Fresno State has now won eight of its last 11 true road games.

Up Next: Fresno State will host New Mexico on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT and Utah State on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets for all remaining home games start at $15.

"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.