Fresno State Athletics
Wednesday, March 23
Fresno, Calif.
7 p.m. PT
Fresno State
21-13,8-9Mountain West
80
vs
71
Youngstown State
19-15,12-9Horizon
1
2
F
Youngstown St.
34
37
71
Fresno St.
32
48
80
Photo by: Samuel Marshall
Marching On! ’Dogs surge into semis
3/23/2022 10:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Fresno State earned its 21st win of the season by rallying for an 80-71 win over Youngstown State in quarterfinals of The Basketball Classic, presented by ERACISM.
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State men's basketball team delivered another resilient effort in March and earned an 80-71 quarterfinal win over the Youngstown State Penguins on Wednesday night in The Basketball Classic, presented by ERACISM.
Fresno State (21-13) used the power of the Red Wave to erase a double-digit deficit in the second half and surge past YSU (19-15) into the semifinals of a postseason tournament for just the fourth time in the program's Division I history.
On Wednesday, the Bulldogs' bench scored a season-high 41 points and Orlando Robinson recorded his 27th career double-double (16 points and 13 rebounds) to help the 'Dogs extend their season into the final week of March.
Destin Whitaker (14 points), Braxton Meah (14 points) and Donavan Yap (13 points) each produced season-best single-game point totals for the Bulldogs.
Fresno State will host a semifinal game against either Portland or Southern Utah on Monday night at 7 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. Tickets start at $5 and free parking will be available for fans.
How it happened: Despite missing its first seven shots and spotting the Penguins a touchdown, Fresno State dug itself out of the hole with a 13-6 run and neither team led by more than four points for the rest of the opening half.
Later when the Bulldogs were trailing 59-54, Fresno State shot and defended its way to a 12-0 run for a 66-59 lead and the 'Dogsnever looked back. Fresno State led for the final 6:26 of the game.
In the contest, Fresno State shot 50 percent from the field, including a blistering 59.3 percent in the second half (16-for-28). The Bulldogs also outscored YSU 41-8 in bench points.
Quotes:
Justin Hutson, Fresno State head coach
"We kept playing, we kept fighting – I'm so proud of these guys. Braxton (Meah) played probably his best game that he's been here on both ends of the court. I have to give credit to the Red Wave too, I mean they were loud, they were in it.
On the Bulldogs' reserves stepping up…
"I knew we were going to have some guys play more minutes. I told them we were confident in what we could do... It wasn't the same usual suspects but they went out there and fought."
Donavan Yap, Fresno State sophomore guard
On the impact of the crowd…
"They were a big part of us coming back down ten. I felt like when their momentum went up, our momentum went up too. It kind of helped us stick together throughout the game."
On the game…
"My teammates did a good job finding me when I was open or just playing the way that we know how to play, and I was just lucky to see the ball go through the net.
On winning and advancing in March…
"Definitely makes me happy. Not too many teams get to play at these post season games, especially at home so it'll be big for us.
Team Notes
Fresno State (21-13) used the power of the Red Wave to erase a double-digit deficit in the second half and surge past YSU (19-15) into the semifinals of a postseason tournament for just the fourth time in the program's Division I history.
On Wednesday, the Bulldogs' bench scored a season-high 41 points and Orlando Robinson recorded his 27th career double-double (16 points and 13 rebounds) to help the 'Dogs extend their season into the final week of March.
Destin Whitaker (14 points), Braxton Meah (14 points) and Donavan Yap (13 points) each produced season-best single-game point totals for the Bulldogs.
Fresno State will host a semifinal game against either Portland or Southern Utah on Monday night at 7 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. Tickets start at $5 and free parking will be available for fans.
How it happened: Despite missing its first seven shots and spotting the Penguins a touchdown, Fresno State dug itself out of the hole with a 13-6 run and neither team led by more than four points for the rest of the opening half.
Later when the Bulldogs were trailing 59-54, Fresno State shot and defended its way to a 12-0 run for a 66-59 lead and the 'Dogsnever looked back. Fresno State led for the final 6:26 of the game.
In the contest, Fresno State shot 50 percent from the field, including a blistering 59.3 percent in the second half (16-for-28). The Bulldogs also outscored YSU 41-8 in bench points.
Quotes:
Justin Hutson, Fresno State head coach
"We kept playing, we kept fighting – I'm so proud of these guys. Braxton (Meah) played probably his best game that he's been here on both ends of the court. I have to give credit to the Red Wave too, I mean they were loud, they were in it.
On the Bulldogs' reserves stepping up…
"I knew we were going to have some guys play more minutes. I told them we were confident in what we could do... It wasn't the same usual suspects but they went out there and fought."
Donavan Yap, Fresno State sophomore guard
On the impact of the crowd…
"They were a big part of us coming back down ten. I felt like when their momentum went up, our momentum went up too. It kind of helped us stick together throughout the game."
On the game…
"My teammates did a good job finding me when I was open or just playing the way that we know how to play, and I was just lucky to see the ball go through the net.
On winning and advancing in March…
"Definitely makes me happy. Not too many teams get to play at these post season games, especially at home so it'll be big for us.
Team Notes
- This was Fresno State's 40th postseason game in its Division I era (since the 1970-71 season).
- This was Fresno State's seventh quarterfinal postseason appearance in its Division I era (since 1971).
- This is Fresno State's 18th postseason appearance in its Division I era (25th all-time in program history).
- This is Fresno State's first postseason appearance since 2017 (first in The Basketball Classic).
- Justin Hutson is the eighth head coach in program history to lead the Bulldogs to postseason play.
- Fresno State improved to 22-18 all-time in postseason play in its Division I era (since the 1970-71 season).
- Fresno State has won at least one game in nine different postseason tournament appearances (D-1 era).
- Fresno State will be one of 12 teams in the nation still playing when the Bulldogs host the semifinals of The Basketball Classic, presented by ERACISM, on Monday night at the Save Mart Center.
Team Stats
YSU
Fresno
FG%
.451
.500
3FG%
.273
.321
FT%
.905
.607
RB
30
32
TO
14
10
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
C
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