Crunch time surge fuels 79-64 win

Friday, January 8

Fresno, Calif.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

4-3, 2-3MW

San Jose State

2-7, 0-5MW

San Jose State

Fresno State

Photo by: Samuel Marshall

Crunch time surge fuels 79-64 win

1/8/2021 9:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Fresno State sophomore forward Orlando Robinson is second in the nation in double-doubles per game with six in the Bulldogs’ first seven contests of the season.

By: Stephen Trembley / Director of New Media

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State men's basketball team defeated the San Jose State Spartans 79-64 on Friday night at the Save Mart Center.

Fresno State (4-3, 2-3 Mountain West) used a 17-2 run in the second half to pull away down the stretch and secure the Bulldogs' 20th all-time MW win by at least 15 points, which was the seventh in Hutson's first three seasons.

Sophomore forward Orlando Robinson scored a team-high 23 points and 14 rebounds for his sixth double-double in the Bulldogs' seven contests so far this season, which ranks as the nation's second-best double-double per game rate.

Robinson shot 7-for-14 from the field and also had three blocks, two assists and a steal, and drew the consistent attention of SJSU's defensive gameplan.

As a team, Fresno State outrebounded SJSU 47-24, including a 22-to-5 advantage on the offensive glass (16-to-2 in the second half), and outscored the Spartans 21-5 in second-chance points. Deon Stroud added 14 points, Isaiah Hill had 12 points and five assists, and Jordan Campbell tied a career-high with 11 points and also had seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in 29 minutes of reserve action.

San Jose State (2-7, 0-5 MW) was led by Richard Washington's 30 points, which included 23 in the first half, but the Bulldogs' defense continued to contest his looks and limited Washington to just seven after halftime.

Quotes:
Justin Hutson, Fresno State head coach
On the team's adjustments going into the second half …
"We have to give credit to Junior Ballard... he came and set a tone at the start of the second half. Our bigs did a better job of helping when it was time to help or help on some down screens. I thought we had better awareness in the second half than we did in the first half."

On Jordan Campbell's performance over the last two games….
"This is how it had to be, just had to be this way. We have a lot of unproven players, 10 new guys and you are not able to some of the normal stuff you do during the season, we are figuring stuff out on the fly during the games. I am so ecstatic he has played the way he has the last two games because there is not a better kid than Jordan Campbell."

On what was said at halftime…
"We were completely awful in the first half on all the things we talked about, but I said hey we got another half to get it done and I believe in you, let's go get it done and it was gratifying to see them get it done."

Jordan Campbell, Fresno State redshirt sophomore guard
On jelling and clicking as a team….
"I feel like after the first losses at Colorado State, we had a reality check about what being a team is and the first game of Wyoming, we displayed that pretty well and I feel like as the season progresses, our chemistry will only get better."

On what specifically the team has gotten better at over the past few games…
"We are moving the ball a lot better. The first few games the ball was stagnant and was not really moving. I feel like the past few games with us moving the ball gives everybody opportunities to score and gets everybody paint touches which leads to good shots."

Team Notes

This was Fresno State's 35th win in Mountain West play by at least 10 points (14th in Hutson's tenure) and 20th by at least 15 points (seventh in Hutson's tenure).
Fresno State sophomore forward Orlando Robinson is second in the nation in double-doubles per game (six in seven) - trailing only Saint Louis' Jordan Goodwin (seven in eight).
Fresno State improved to 4-0 this season when allowing under 70 points (27-8 in Hutson's tenure).
This was the 172nd meeting in the all-time series between Fresno State and San Jose State with the Bulldogs now holding a 95-77 advantage (57-36 in games played in Fresno).
Since joining the MW in 2012, Fresno State is 12-2 against San Jose State, including a 5-0 record in Hutson's tenure. The Bulldogs are 15-1 versus the Spartans in games played at the Save Mart Center.

Player Notes:
Orlando Robinson – 23 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists and 1 steal

Robinson recorded his sixth double-double in seven games this season (11th of his career).
Robinson scored a team-high 23 points and has scored in double figures in all seven games this season.
Robinson grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, recording at least 10 rebounds for the sixth time this season.
Robinson had a season-best three blocks in a single game (two shy of his career-high).

Deon Stroud – 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks

Stroud scored in double-figures for the sixth time this season.
Stroud tied his career-high with two blocks.

Isaiah Hill – 12 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal

Hill scored in double figures for the fifth time this season.
Hill led the team with five assists.

Jordan Campbell – 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Campbell scored 11 points to set a new season-high and tie his career-high.
Campbell scored in double figures for the second time this season.
Campbell grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.

Next up: Fresno State closes a four-game MW homestand when the Bulldogs host San Jose State on Sunday at 4 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. The game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network and 940 AM ESPN Radio.

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