FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State men's basketball team suffered a 70-53 loss to the Utah State Aggies on Saturday afternoon before a season-best 6,817 fans at the Save Mart Center.
Led by 11 points apiece from Jemarl Baker and Isaih Moore, Fresno State (7-13, 3-6 MW) struggled to score and contain the Aggies' high-octane offense, which got a game-high 23 points from reserve Dan Akin.
The Bulldogs also got nine points from Isaiah Hill and six points apiece from Anthony Holland and Destin Whitaker, who each made a pair of 3-pointers.
How It HappenedFalling behind 16-11 in the early going, the 'Dogs used an 8-0 run getting a pair of lay-ups from Moore and field goals from Hill and Donavan Yap for a 19-16 lead.
The Aggies responded with an 8-0 run of their own before a three-pointer by Jordan Campbell got the 'Dogs back on the board and down a pair.
A three-pointer by Anthony Holland cut Utah State's lead down to one, 29-28, but the final five points of the half went to the Aggies, who took a six-point lead into halftime.
A 9-3 run by the Aggies to start the second half put Utah State ahead 12 with the 'Dogs able to knock it back down to nine after a free throw from Moore.
USU answered back with a 6-0 run to go back up 15 and extended its lead to as large as 21 with the 'Dogs unable to muster a comeback bid.
Quotes
Justin Hutson, Fresno State head coach
On the game…
"We have to score more than 53 points, that's the bottom line. We start off with great energy on the defensive end guarding one of the top offensive teams, but we have to share the ball side to side and get a piece of the paint. When we do that, we are really good."
On the challenges Dan Akin presented…
"He is quick to the boards and he took advantage of a lot of our miscommunication on the perimeter."
On struggling to score…
"You're fighting a tough game, you get a crease and you don't get fouled or a basket. Those things are tough, so you keep working with them. You keep everybody's spirits up."
Jemarl Baker, Fresno State Guard
On what keeps you focused…
"Coach and my teammates continuing to have confidence in me – they push me every day to be better, whether that's getting on me or encouraging me. That's all I can ask for from them."
On his mindset…
"Win. Win. Take one game at a time and win. Continue to work, continue to progress in practice. Work on the things we haven't done well and just win."
On how he felt physically…
"Felt good. This is the best my legs have felt all year, I am happy about that."
Notes
Fresno State now trails its all-time series with Utah State, 41-23 (overall), which includes losses by the Bulldogs in eight of the last nine meetings.
Fresno State is now 7-9 against Utah State in games played at the Save Mart Center.
The 17-point home loss is the Bulldogs' largest margin of defeat in a home game since falling 61-44 to San Diego State last February.
USU led for nearly 35 minutes of the 40-minute contest and outscored the Bulldogs 30-20 in the paint and 16-6 in second chance points.
While Fresno State made one more 3-pointer than Utah State (seven to six), the Bulldogs were outrebounded 41-24 on the glass by the Aggies.
Up next
The 'Dogs head out on the road on Tuesday traveling to Wyoming (6-14, 1-7 MW) at 7 p.m. PT on FS1 and the Bulldogs Sports Network for the start of a two-game road stretch, which concludes Friday at UNLV.