Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Game Well in Hand, Bulldogs Hand a Victory to USF
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 5 years ago on
December 24, 2019

Share

Fresno State men’s basketball coach Justin Hutson said earlier this year that the Bulldogs needed to take care of business at “winning time.”
But the Bulldogs have yet to master the art of closing out victories.

“We had some adversity just like every other team does with injuries and the travel, but bottom line, we had a chance to win it tonight and we didn’t get it done.” — Fresno State coach Justin Hutson

Bulldogs Led by 8 Late in Game

Despite taking an eight-point lead on Nate Grimes’ 3-pointer with 1 minute, 44 seconds remaining, the Bulldogs fell 71-69 to the University of San Francisco on Monday night.
The nonconference loss to the Dons (11-3) at the Save Mart Center dropped the Bulldogs to 4-8 this season.
And, the defeat marked the fifth loss for the Bulldogs in six games decided by a single possession or overtime.
“We’re playing a really tough schedule,” Hutson said. “We had some adversity just like every other team does with injuries and the travel, but bottom line, we had a chance to win it tonight and we didn’t get it done.”

Composite image of Fresno State basketball and a chart of their close losses
(GV Wire Composite/Alexis DeSha)

Shabazz Hits Game-Deciding Layup

The Bulldogs’ failure to contain Khalil Shabazz led to the defeat. Shabazz scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half — including a game-winning layup a half-second before the final buzzer.
Fresno State also committed 15 turnovers, including three in the final 65 seconds. USF enjoyed a 16-6 advantage in points off turnovers, the Bulldogs made just 6 of 13 free throws.

Bulldogs Get Big Game From Orlando Robinson

But the rapid development of freshman forward Orlando Robinson is providing the Bulldogs and their fans with optimism for the rest of the season and beyond.
Robinson scored a career-high 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting, with seven rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and an assist.
“He continues to work, and he’ll continue to grow and get better,” Hutson said. “He has some up times and bad times, but he’s tough down there. And he can shoot the outside shot when he’s a little bit pickier with the ones he shoots.”

Dons Contain Grimes, Williams

It was a frustrating night for Grimes, the Bulldogs’ usually reliable power forward. Averaging a double-double this season, he finished with just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting. But he did contribute nine rebounds and four blocked shots.
Senior guard New Williams entered averaging 20.5 points over the last four games. However, the Dons limited him to 11 shots, and Williams finished with 12 points.

Next Up

Fresno State meets UC Riverside (8-5) on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Save Mart Center.
The Highlanders, who play in the Big West Conference, have notched victories over Nebraska, Idaho, and San Jose State this season.
 

DON'T MISS

Baseball Is Back! How to Listen to Your MLB Favorites and the Grizzlies

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He’s Settled on a Tariff Plan That Is Set to Take Effect Wednesday

DON'T MISS

Auto Sales Surged in Anticipation of Trump’s Tariffs

DON'T MISS

Raid Or Rumor? Reports Of Immigrations Sweeps Are Warping Life In CA’s Central Valley

DON'T MISS

House Speaker Johnson Fails to Squash a Proxy Voting Effort From New Moms in Congress

DON'T MISS

UN Agency Closes Its Remaining Gaza Bakeries as Food Supplies Dwindle Under Israeli Blockade

DON'T MISS

Hooters Goes Bust and Files for Bankruptcy Protection

DON'T MISS

Can CEMEX Dig a 600-Fit Hole and Not Harm the River? Arambula Says No and Writes a Bill

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Destiny Christine Brown

DON'T MISS

Three Missing Fresno Teens Found Safe After Nine Days

UP NEXT

Athletics Bat Boy Stewart Thalblum Takes Down Drone in Left Field

UP NEXT

NFL Postpones Tush Push Decision but Passes Other Rule Changes, AP Source Says

UP NEXT

March Madness: It’s South Carolina vs. Texas and UCLA vs. UConn in Women’s Final Four

UP NEXT

Flores Homers and Drives in 4 to Lead Giants Over Astros

UP NEXT

Glasnow Pitches 5 Scoreless Innings and Dodgers Beat Winless Braves

UP NEXT

Braves’ Jurickson Profar Hit With 80-Game PED Ban

UP NEXT

Shohei Ohtani Adds Another No. 1 to His Resume: MLB’s Best-Selling Jersey

UP NEXT

Tush Push Is the Hottest Topic at the NFL League Meetings

UP NEXT

Former MLB Pitcher CJ Wilson of Fresno on New Torpedo Bats: ‘Still Room for Innovation’

UP NEXT

Torpedo-Shaped Bats Draw Attention After Yankees Hit Team-Record 9 Homers

Raid Or Rumor? Reports Of Immigrations Sweeps Are Warping Life In CA’s Central Valley

1 hour ago

House Speaker Johnson Fails to Squash a Proxy Voting Effort From New Moms in Congress

1 hour ago

UN Agency Closes Its Remaining Gaza Bakeries as Food Supplies Dwindle Under Israeli Blockade

2 hours ago

Hooters Goes Bust and Files for Bankruptcy Protection

2 hours ago

Can CEMEX Dig a 600-Fit Hole and Not Harm the River? Arambula Says No and Writes a Bill

2 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Destiny Christine Brown

4 hours ago

Three Missing Fresno Teens Found Safe After Nine Days

4 hours ago

State Center Trustees Vote for Special Interest Giveaway Over Students: Opinion

5 hours ago

Lakers Hold Off Rockets With 6 3-Pointers Apiece From Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent

5 hours ago

Athletics Bat Boy Stewart Thalblum Takes Down Drone in Left Field

5 hours ago

Baseball Is Back! How to Listen to Your MLB Favorites and the Grizzlies

The Fresno Grizzlies starts the 2025 season Friday night at home versus Stockton. A new voice will call the games. Tim Slack, most recent...

17 minutes ago

17 minutes ago

Baseball Is Back! How to Listen to Your MLB Favorites and the Grizzlies

Vehicles at an Audi showroom in Miami, March 29, 2025. President Donald Trump has said that tariffs would encourage auto companies and their suppliers to move to the U.S. (Saul Martinez/The New York Times)
27 minutes ago

Trump Says He’s Settled on a Tariff Plan That Is Set to Take Effect Wednesday

Vehicles are passed through final inspection at the end of the assembly line at the General Motors facility in Spring Hill, Tenn., Oct. 7, 2024. Sales of cars picked up recently partly as buyers rushed to lock in deals before President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on cars and auto parts go into effect. (Brett Carlsen/The New York Times)
1 hour ago

Auto Sales Surged in Anticipation of Trump’s Tariffs

1 hour ago

Raid Or Rumor? Reports Of Immigrations Sweeps Are Warping Life In CA’s Central Valley

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., takes questions on tariffs while meeting with reporters at a news conference, at the Capitol, in Washington, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
1 hour ago

House Speaker Johnson Fails to Squash a Proxy Voting Effort From New Moms in Congress

Palestinians receive bags of flour and other humanitarian aid distributed by UNRWA, the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP/Jehad Alshrafi)
2 hours ago

UN Agency Closes Its Remaining Gaza Bakeries as Food Supplies Dwindle Under Israeli Blockade

July 27, 2017, shows a Hooters sign at a restaurant in Hialeah, Fla. (AP File)
2 hours ago

Hooters Goes Bust and Files for Bankruptcy Protection

2 hours ago

Can CEMEX Dig a 600-Fit Hole and Not Harm the River? Arambula Says No and Writes a Bill

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend