Fresno State Athletics
Wednesday, November 26
4 p.m. PT
Fresno State
6-2,0-0Mountain West
76
vs
53
Pepperdine
3-4,0-0WCC
1
2
F
Pepperdine
35
18
53
Fresno St.
27
49
76
Team Stats
PEP
Fresno
FG%
.313
.484
3FG%
.207
.300
FT%
.700
.500
RB
42
32
TO
17
7
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Pts
27
FGM
11
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
Explosive second half sends 'Dogs crashing over Waves, 76-53
11/26/2025 10:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PALM DESERT, Calif. – After a slow start, the Fresno State men's basketball team flipped the script in a big way Wednesday night, erupting for a dominant second half to cruise past Pepperdine, 76–53, at Acrisure Arena. The Bulldogs outscored the Waves 49–18 after halftime to move to 6–2 on the season.
Jake Heidbreder led the way with a game-high 27 points, knocking down four three-pointers and attacking the rim all night long. Zaon Collins added 10 points and dished out nine assists, while DeShawn Gory finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
As a team, Fresno State shot better than 51 percent from the floor and turned 17 Pepperdine turnovers into 28 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Pepperdine came out with early momentum, using hot three-point shooting and extra possessions on the glass to take control of the opening half. Despite several strong looks inside from Heidbreder and Gory, the Bulldogs struggled to find an offensive rhythm and went into the locker room trailing 35–27.
Everything changed coming out of the break.
Fresno State ripped off a 16–0 run to open the second half, sparked by a pair of three-pointers from DeShawn Gory and Cameron Faas. Wilson Jacques capped the surge with an alley-oop layup to tie the game at 35, sending momentum fully in the Bulldogs' direction.
From there, it was all Fresno State.
Heidbreder caught fire during the middle stretch of the half, scoring from all three levels as the Bulldogs continued to extend the lead. The defense locked in as well, limiting Pepperdine to just six made field goals over the final 20 minutes.
By the final media timeout, Fresno State had built a comfortable cushion and closed strong down the stretch, pulling away for the convincing 23-point win.
NOTES
The Bulldogs face CSU Bakersfield for the Return to Selland game on 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 30.
Jake Heidbreder led the way with a game-high 27 points, knocking down four three-pointers and attacking the rim all night long. Zaon Collins added 10 points and dished out nine assists, while DeShawn Gory finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
As a team, Fresno State shot better than 51 percent from the floor and turned 17 Pepperdine turnovers into 28 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Pepperdine came out with early momentum, using hot three-point shooting and extra possessions on the glass to take control of the opening half. Despite several strong looks inside from Heidbreder and Gory, the Bulldogs struggled to find an offensive rhythm and went into the locker room trailing 35–27.
Everything changed coming out of the break.
Fresno State ripped off a 16–0 run to open the second half, sparked by a pair of three-pointers from DeShawn Gory and Cameron Faas. Wilson Jacques capped the surge with an alley-oop layup to tie the game at 35, sending momentum fully in the Bulldogs' direction.
From there, it was all Fresno State.
Heidbreder caught fire during the middle stretch of the half, scoring from all three levels as the Bulldogs continued to extend the lead. The defense locked in as well, limiting Pepperdine to just six made field goals over the final 20 minutes.
By the final media timeout, Fresno State had built a comfortable cushion and closed strong down the stretch, pulling away for the convincing 23-point win.
NOTES
- Jake Heidbreder poured in a game-high 27 points
- Fresno State held Pepperdine to just 18 second-half points
- The Bulldogs scored 28 points off 17 Pepperdine turnovers
- Fresno State totaled 20 assists on 31 made baskets
- The Bulldogs finished with 44 points in the paint and 17 fast-break points
- Fresno State improved to 6–2 on the season
- Every available player on the Bulldog squad saw game action against the Waves
- Fresno State had only 7 turnovers for the first time since February 6, 2024, against San Diego State.
- The Bulldogs went on a 19-0 scoring run, their largest of the season.
- In the first half, Fresno State was 1-14 from three-point range but was 8-16 in the second.
- Fresno State outscored Pepperdine 49-18 in the second half.
The Bulldogs face CSU Bakersfield for the Return to Selland game on 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 30.
Return to Selland: Press Conference
Friday, October 17
MBB: Highlight vs. San Diego [12/14/24]
Tuesday, December 17
MBB Media Availability [12/3]
Tuesday, December 03
MBB: Highlight vs. Prairie View A&M [11/20/24]
Thursday, November 21