Bulldogs get 32 from Deshon Taylor, but still can’t keep up with Nevada
In a rematch with Nevada, Fresno State went big.
Coach Rodney Terry started Terrell Carter II for the first time since November, a game in Cancun against Evansville. He was out there with Bryson Williams, with Deshon Taylor, Ray Bowles Jr., and Jaron Hopkins in the backcourt.
That lineup didn't last long, felled by fouls. But the Bulldogs dug their way out of a hole and took a lead with a smaller lineup on the floor.
No matter what lineup Terry put out there, though, the Bulldogs couldn't keep up with the Wolf Pack in a 102-92 loss on Wednesday at the Lawlor Events Center, even with Deshon Taylor putting in a career-high tying 32 points.
Nevada (19-4, 8-1 in the MW) swept the Bulldogs and extended its home court winning streak to 16 games by hitting 17 of 27 shots in the second half. They were 6 of 10 from three. They were 11 of 17 from two. They also were 19 of 23 at the foul line.
Cody Martin was 3 of 3 in scoring 12 of his 22 points in the second half.
Caleb Martin was 6 of 6, scoring 16 of his 18 points in the second half.
“They made some big shots down the stretch,” Terry said. “The Martin twins, those guys are good players. They made some big shots like they have all year.
“I can’t fault our guy’s effort. I thought our guys competed at a very high level likewise and I thought we improved tonight in a loss. We’re just going to keep working. That’s a good team on their home court.”
Fresno State (15-8, 5-5) was 9 of 16 at the 3-point line at one point and they were carried for a few minutes in the second half at the offensive end by Williams, who had 19.
The Bulldogs hit 58.2 percent of their shots, but the Wolf Pack hit a season-high 58.9 percent of theirs.
Not surprisingly, that was the highest allowed this season by the Bulldogs as well.
Robert Kuwada: @rkuwada
Up next
FRESNO STATE AT WYOMING
- Saturday: 11 a.m. at Arena-Auditorium, Laramie, Wyo.
- TV/radio: AT&TSportsNet/KFIG (AM 940)
- Records: Bulldogs -, - Mountain West; Cowboys 15-7, 6-3
- Of note: The Cowboys won at Colorado State 91-86 in two overtimes on Wednesday, getting 26 points from Hayden Dalton and 25 from Justin James. Alan Herndon also had 11 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, three blocked shots and two steals for the Cowboys. Wyoming started the week fourth in the Mountain West in scoring offense at 79.4 points per game, but also had allowed 78.0 points per game and was ranked last in the conference in scoring defense. Opponents had hit 42.8 percent of their shots and 36.4 percent at the 3-point line. James was third in the conference in scoring and Dalton was ninth at 18.9 and 16.9 points per game.
This story was originally published January 31, 2018 at 10:48 PM with the headline "Bulldogs get 32 from Deshon Taylor, but still can’t keep up with Nevada."