Sophomore Bryson Williams and senior Terrell Carter II combined for 38 points Tuesday night to lead the Fresno State men’s basketball team to a 69-63 win over the University of Nevada Las Vegas during a Mountain West Conference matchup at the Save Mart Center on Tuesday.

From the opening tip, the Bulldogs forced the issue. Whether it was scoring inside the paint or stepping back and knocking down jumpers, Fresno State showed up to challenge.

Williams led all scorers with 20 points on 10-14 shooting. He also added four assists and four rebounds. Although Williams padded the stat sheet with his impressive play, the plays that didn’t show up on the stat sheet, really gave his team a boost.

Fresno State fans know all about Williams prowess around the rim, but his ability to create for his teammates stood out against the Rebels. Carter II, the main beneficiary, was able to play off Williams. That gave him easy looks in the paint.

Carter II was also a force on the defensive end. The Bulldogs had three blocks on the night but none more important than Carter II’s game-saving rejection late in the game.

After the Rebels erased a five-point lead late in the second half, the Bulldogs were on the ropes. With a chance to tie the game, a UNLV guard attacked the paint hoping for a lane.

But he was met with force as Carter II towered over the helpless Rebel to send his shot directly into the hardwood, bringing the Savemart Center to their feet.

Fresno State capitalized on their newfound momentum and closed out the game.

On a night with Mountain West implications on the line, the ‘Dogs showed up when it mattered most. Standing at 15-6, 5-3 on the season, Fresno State looks to make a deep push into the conference in hopes of making a strong postseason run.

The Bulldogs face Utah State next Saturday, looking to continue their late-season push.