CHAMPS! ’Dogs win SoCal Challenge

Wednesday, November 24

San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

10 p.m. PT

Fresno State

5-0,0-0Mountain West

Santa Clara

5-1,0-0WCC

Fresno St.

Santa Clara

Photo by: Ken Pagliaro - Venue Twin SoCal Challenge

CHAMPS! ’Dogs win SoCal Challenge

11/25/2021 1:15:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Fresno State improved to 5-0 with a 59-52 win over Santa Clara to capture the 2021 Venue Twin SoCal Challenge Surf Division.

By: Stephen Trembley / Director of Strategic Communications

The Breakdown

Fresno State won the 2021 Venue Twin Southern California Surf Division Championship.
Fresno State's Orlando Robinson was named the Surf Division Most Valuable Player.
The Bulldogs are 5-0 for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Fresno State next plays at Cal on Sunday at 6 p.m. PT.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – The Fresno State men's basketball team surfed past the Santa Clara Broncos 59-52 to win the 2021 Venue Twin Southern California Challenge Surf Division early on Thanksgiving morning, after tipping off late on Thanksgiving Eve.

Fresno State (5-0) locked down on defense and led for more than 33 minutes in handing Santa Clara (5-1) its first loss of the season.

Fresno State junior forward Orlando Robinson scored a game-high 22 points with eight rebounds and four blocks and earned Venue Twin SoCal Challenge Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.

Jordan Campbell added 12 points, including multiple game-changing highlight reel plays in the defensive showcase.

How it happened: Fresno State limited Santa Clara to a season-low 36 percent from the field.

As a squad, the Bulldogs outscored Santa Clara 16-7 in points off turnovers, with Fresno State committing just eight turnovers while forcing 15 Bronco turnovers.

The play of the night belonged to Campbell, who blocked a shot in the backcourt and then threw down an emphatic windmill dunk in transition - a dunk he has had in his back pocket since high school.

Notes:

Fresno State is 5-0 to start the season for the first time since the 2015-16 season when the Bulldogs opened 5-0, later won the 2016 MW Tournament and played in the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
Fresno State's Orlando Robinson has scored in double figures in a career-best 14 consecutive games.
Fresno State improved to 34-6 when recording a better assist-to-turnover ratio than its opponent (12 straight wins).
This was Fresno State's first regular season nonconference tournament championship since winning the 2015 Roundball Showcase.
Fresno State improved to 14-1 when allowing under 60 points in head coach Justin Hutson's tenure.
Fresno State is one of 36 remaining unbeaten teams in the nation.
In the next month, Fresno State plays road nonconference games at two Pac-12 opponents (Nov. 28 at Cal & Dec. 21 at Utah), and visits San Francisco (Dec. 8) and Weber State (Dec. 23).

Up Next: Fresno State visits the California Golden Bears on Sunday at 6 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks (television) and the Bulldog Sports Network (radio, Fox Sports 1340 in Fresno and Fox Sports 970 in Bakersfield).

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – 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 visit bulldogfoundation.org.