The Fresno State men’s basketball team shattered a record while setting career-highs in their 93-56 win against California State Monterey Bay on Monday at the Save Mart Center.
Forward Bryson Williams led the ‘Dogs with a career-high 30 points on 14-of-17 shooting. With that, the sophomore set another career-high of 14 field goals.
“I was just being aggressive. Coach Terry really worked on catching us in the paint and completing “hang your hat” moves and stuff like that, so I was just being aggressive and playing basketball,” Williams said.
Sophomore Nate Grimes tied the program record for most rebounds in a single game at the Save Mart Center since Quinton Holsey in 2006. The 17 rebounds and 10 points marked a career-high for the forward as well as his first career double-double.
“He is just energy. He gets a lot done and he has been working hard all summer and working hard in practice. He deserves it,” Williams said of Grimes.
The ‘Dogs dominated both sides of the court to secure the win by 37 points, the third time this season the team won by at least 30 points.
Fresno State outscored the Otters 54-16 in the paint and 30-19 in points off turnovers.
A total of five ‘Dogs scored in double figures while finishing 39-of-67 field goal attempts.
One of them, junior Deshon Taylor, locking in 18 points, his 11th time scoring in double-figures. The guard also recorded a career-high of nine assists.
With this win, the ‘Dogs improve to a 10-3 record as they head into conference play.
“We have had a chance to work against different styles all non-conference. I think our league is as good as it has been since we have been in it. I think, from top to bottom, I think any body can beat anybody on any given night,” head coach Rodney Terry said.
Fresno State will open Mountain West play when the ‘Dogs host the Nevada Wolf Pack on Dec. 27 at the Save Mart Center.
“We are really excited and we just have to play Bulldog Basketball for forty minutes. We know it will be a hard fought game, but we just have to play our game and play defense like how we were taught to play,” Terry said.
