Gritty defense powers Bulldogs to sweep of Broncos

Wednesday, February 13

Fresno, Calif.

7:30 p.m. PT

Fresno State

18-6, 9-3MW

Boise State

11-14, 6-6MW

Boise State

Fresno State

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Gritty defense powers Bulldogs to sweep of Broncos

2/13/2019 10:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery (Keith Kountz)

Fresno State has now won at least nine conference games in each of the last six seasons. The Bulldogs play at UNM on Saturday and next host Air Force next Wednesday night.

By: Stephen Trembley / Director of New Media

FRESNO, Calif. --- The Fresno State men's basketball team secured a hard-nosed 65-63 victory over the Boise State Broncos on Wednesday night at the Save Mart Center.

Fresno State (18-6, 9-3 Mountain West) remains in a tie for second place in the conference standings with Utah State (19-6, 9-3 MW) – just 1.5 games back of No. 7/6 Nevada (23-1, 10-1 MW).

With the win, the Bulldogs have clinched a regular season sweep of the Broncos, which gives Fresno State the head-to-head tiebreaker over Boise State (11-14, 6-6 MW) for seeding in the 2019 MW Tournament, if needed. Fresno State also has the head-to-head tiebreaker over UNLV, if needed.

Fresno State redshirt senior guard Braxton Huggins scored a game-high 26 points on 9-for-16 shooting to lead four Bulldogs in double figures. Nate Grimes posted his ninth double-double of the season (eighth in MW play) with 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who also got 11 points from Deshon Taylor and 10 points by Noah Blackwell.

Huggins, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., has now scored at least 20 points in four straight games and six of the last seven games. He has scored 26 or more points in each of the last three contests.

Fresno State has also earned its sixth straight season with at least nine conference victories.

How it happened: Neither team led by more than six points in the competitive 40-minute contest, which featured 16 lead changes - the most in any of Fresno State's 24 games this season.

The Bulldogs opened the game with Blackwell hitting a 3-pointer and Huggins added a free throw for an early 4-0 lead. The Broncos answered with six straight points and the lead changed six times in a three-minute span before Boise State took an 18-12 lead with three consecutive field goals midway through the first half.

The Bulldogs kept chipping away at the Broncos' lead, until back-to-back scores from Huggins and Blackwell put Fresno State up 30-29 with 54 seconds left in the first half, but Boise State's RJ Williams would get to the free throw line with 31 seconds left and gave the Broncos a 31-30 lead going into halftime by making a pair from the charity stripe.

The Broncos and the Bulldogs continued exchanging baskets in the second half, but nobody could break open the game. Boise State managed to hold a slim lead over Fresno State through the first seven minutes of the second half until the Bulldogs went on an 8-2 run -- capped by a 3-pointer from Huggins to push Fresno State in front 43-41 lead with 12:28 to play.

The lead would change five more times over the next eight minutes, with neither able to take more than a three-point lead over the stretch.

Boise State retook the lead with a quick jumper but Fresno State was relentless -- tying the game two more times. Huggins would take it to the hoop to get a basket and draw a foul. He completed the three-point play to give the Bulldogs a 62-61 lead with 28 seconds remaining. A foul would send the Broncos to the free throw line with eight seconds left on the clock. Alex Hobbs, who finished with a team-high 18 points, was able to convert both to make it a one-point game.

The Broncos quickly fouled Grimes, who made one of two free throws and the Bulldogs' defense came through with a stop on a contested 3-point attempt by Hobbs in the final second.

Fresno State held Boise State to just 36.7 percent shooting, including a 3-for-17 clip (17.6 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc, and the Bulldogs had five blocks, including arguably the game-saving swat by Blackwell with 11 seconds to go in the game.

Quotes
Justin Hutson, Fresno State head coach
On the team stepping up down the stretch…
"It was a good game. It was close and what it says about our team is that we can grit one out. We give Boise State credit, they play good defense and they are well coached. They took away some of the things that we had on the first side of the floor. Our offensive struggles obviously didn't affect our defense, if you look at our defensive numbers. Sometimes games go like that. I was proud that our guys continued to play the next play."

On the Red Wave's presence…
"They stood up and it was loud. We have to keep being loud and proud. You know I love the Red Wave. I am just excited to see everybody out here and I appreciate everybody who comes out."

On the decision for a full-court press at times in the second half…
"Boise State is a good executing team. If you let them move the ball up the floor and let them execute, they can pick you apart and make you look bad. We wanted to pressure without fouling to try to take them out of their rhythm."

On Braxton Huggins…
"He has no fear and he is talented. I think you have to have both. You can't have a guy who is talented but scared to take the shot. As you can see, he can really score the basketball. We talk about making the play, we want him to attack and if he has to then we want him to kick it out. If he is open to make a play, then he is one of our best."

On playing at New Mexico on Saturday…
"They have 16,000 people there every night; win, lose or draw. It is loud and you are in altitude. They always have really good teams and good coaches, and that goes along with it."

Braxton Huggins, Fresno State senior guard
On having high-scoring games…
"It is the confidence that my teammates and my coaches give me. They give me confidence to be aggressive and shoot the ball. My teammates tell me that if I have a lane open, I can take it and if I have an open look, shoot it. That is exactly what I do."

Player Notes:
Braxton Huggins – 26 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block

Led the team in scoring with 26 points.
Scored over 20 points for the fourth consecutive game (ninth game this season) – third straight with over 25 points.
Has scored in double-figures in 19 games this season.
Scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half.
Was 9-of-16 from the field.

Nate Grimes – 13 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal

Led the team in rebounding with 15.
Recorded a double-double for the second consecutive game.
Has notched nine double-doubles this season (eight in MW play).
Has had scored in double-figures in six of the last seven games.
Scored in double-figures for the 14th time this season.
Grabbed double-digit rebounds for the 11th time this season.

Team Notes

Fresno State has won at least nine conference games for the sixth consecutive season. Fresno State is one of three MW programs to have finished .500 or better in league play in each of the past five seasons.
Fresno State improved to 63-15 overall at home since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 32-9 record against MW opponents.
Fresno State improved to 11-3 at home this season (4-2 in home MW games).
Fresno State improved to 4-4 this season when trailing at half.
Fresno State improved to 13-1 this season when allowing under 70 points.
Fresno State has now won 11 consecutive games when at least four different Bulldogs score 10 or more points.
Fresno State has won the second-most MW games (44) in the last four seasons (Nevada, 49).
Fresno State has won 16 of its last 20 games (6-2 in last eight MW games).
Fresno State has made at least four 3-pointers in every game this season.
Fresno State senior guard Deshon Taylor moved up into No. 19 on the Bulldogs' all-time scoring list and now has 1,301 career points at Fresno State (1,551 career points in collegiate career).

Up Next: Fresno State travels to play at New Mexico on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN3 and 940 AM ESPN Radio. The Bulldogs next compete at home versus Air Force on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. Tickets to all remaining home games start at $15.

"Just the Ticket to Build our Community" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.