Second-half surge lifts 'Dogs

The men's team advances to the semifinals with an overtime win against Louisiana Tech

Staff Report / The Collegian

Things were looking glum for Fresno State before a second-half spurt in Thursday night’s 84-81 overtime win over Louisiana Tech in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament in Reno, Nev.

Fourth-seeded Fresno State trailed 42-32 at halftime before going on a 15-6 run to open the second half, eventually taking a two-point lead (52-50) when freshman Donovan Morris hit a 3-pointer.

Ja’Vance Coleman led Fresno State with 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting. He was 4 of 7 from 3-point range and also added eight rebounds and five assists.

Fresno State (16-13) managed to out-rebound fifth-seeded Louisiana Tech 47-45 despite a big-game performance from Tech sophomore Paul Millsap, who grabbed 17 rebounds and scored a game-high 25 points.

Millsap had a chance to tie the game with 16 seconds left in overtime, but missed a free throw.

At the end of regulation, Fresno State led by one point before Louisiana Tech’s Donnell Allick was sent to the free-throw line when a foul was called on Chris Berry.

Allick missed the second of his two free throws with 7.7 seconds left, but Fresno State wasn’t able to get off a potential game-winning shot.

Coleman scored seven of his team’s 10 points in overtime, including a 3-pointer to tie the game after Louisiana Tech took a brief overtime lead.

Fresno State took an 82-78 overtime lead on a Dreike Bouldin 3-pointer with 1:10 left, but that lead was cut to one when Millsap hit three of four free throws on the next two possessions combined. But Millsap missed his fourth free-throw attempt and Louisiana Tech sent Coleman to the line.

Coleman connected on both free throws to put Fresno State ahead 84-81. Allick put up a last-second 3-pointer that missed before getting the ball back and hitting one after time had expired.

Fresno State faces eighth-seeded Boise State tonight at 8:30 in a semifinal matchup. Boise State upset top-seeded Nevada 73-72 in Thursday’s late game.