The Fresno State men’s basketball team won its second game of the season at home against Prairie View A&M, breaking its two-game losing streak.
The Bulldogs were dominant in the first half, winning the battle in the paint.
After a slow start to the second half, the ‘Dogs were able to pull away late with the victory.
Despite missing multiple players due to injuries, the Bulldogs got it done in the Save Mart Center.
“The next man had to step up,” said forward Elijah Price. “It wasn’t pretty but we got it done.”
How it happened
The Bulldogs got on the board first with a 3-pointer from guard Amar Augillard, who has led the team in points per game this season.
A Prairie View 3-pointer made it 7-6 still in favor of Fresno State three minutes into the game.
The Bulldogs then went on a 9-0 scoring run, with guard Mykell Robinson and guard Jalen Weaver scoring or assisting on all nine goals.
With 10 minutes left in the first half, the Bulldogs went on another big run, helped by center Mor Seck in the paint. Multiple rebounds by Seck on both sides of the floor helped drive the offense, ballooning their lead to 11 points.
Seck dominated the paint, finishing the first half with 10 rebounds and six of them coming on offense.
“I’m trying to do everything I can to win,” Seck said. “That’s my job to get every rebound I can.”
The Bulldogs ended the first half on a 7-0 run, taking a 53-36 lead into halftime.
Price led the Bulldogs in the first half with 14 points, eight coming from the free-throw line.
The Bulldogs played physical in the first half. After being outrebounded 51-27 in their last game they came out determined to win the battle inside, outrebounding the Panthers 27-17 in the first half.
And despite having just two more offensive rebounds than Prairie View, the Bulldogs had 15 second-chance points compared to the Panthers’ four.
The Panthers came out ready in the second half, scoring 10 quick points. The Bulldogs looked to stop the momentum on their next possession.
Weaver dished to a wide-open guard David Douglas Jr. in the corner who nailed a 3-pointer, making it 62-46.
The three didn’t phase the Panthers who kept their foot on the gas. They went on a 9-0 run which forced Bulldog’s Head Coach, Vance Walberg, to call a timeout and regroup. Six minutes into the second half, the Bulldogs saw their 17-point lead fall to just seven.
“I thought in the second half we gave up way too many rebounds,” Walberg said.
The Bulldogs seemed to calm down following the timeout. Weaver scored twice on an 11-4 run which forced the Panthers to call a timeout of their own with 10 minutes to play in the game, 63-75
The timeout paid off as Prairie View went on a 7-0 run making it just a 5-point game, the closest since there were nine minutes left in the first half.
The Bulldogs struggled from the field in the second half, getting a lot of their work done in the paint or at the free-throw line. The ‘Dogs shot 17% from the 3-point line in the second half, and just 27% for the game.
”I think we’re a lot better than that,” Price said. “I think we’re just still figuring it out.”
With two minutes to go in the game, Walberg called another timeout. The Bulldogs came out pushing the pace, going on a 7-2 run and putting the game out of reach.
Despite the troubles from the field in the second half, the Bulldogs closed the game out, winning 94-83.
Seck, Price and Robinson all ended the night with double-doubles. Seck led the way with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Price rounded out with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
”It just gives me confidence,” Price said. “It’s a product of my hard work.”
Robinson filled out the stat sheet with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists.
What’s next
The ‘Dogs will head back on the road to face Long Beach State on Saturday, Nov. 23.
The next time the Bulldogs play at the Save Mart Center is on Wednesday, Dec. 4 when they take on San Diego State.