Take three on Fresno State’s loss at New Mexico: Bulldogs come up empty far too often at rim
Fresno State was closer to whole than it has been in some time with Nate Grimes back from a wrist injury and Jordan Campbell, the mid-year transfer, finally on the floor for the first time this season.
But the Bulldogs got worn down by a more physical basketball team in a 78-64 loss at New Mexico on Tuesday, unable to find the Lobos’ Vance Jackson or figure out how to stop Jaquan Lyle.
Jackson hit 9 of 12 shots in scoring 29 points with 13 rebounds and Lyle had 14 points and 10 assists, one fewer than the Bulldogs (5-11, 1-4 in the MW) had as a team.
Here are three takeaways from the game …
LAYUPS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE EASY
Fouls and foul shooting hurt the Bulldogs at the offensive end, but they also whiffed on far too many shots right at the rim.
On layups and dunks – 13 of 30, 43.3%.
The Bulldogs have had games this season where they have hit at a higher percentage at the 3-point line including a last-out victory over San Jose when they were 15 of 34 (44.1%).
New Mexico put some bigger, physical players on the floor. But just finishing was more an issue than finishing through contact.
“We’re 13 of 30 on layups and dunks and they’re open,” coach Justin Hutson said. “There were some that were contested – they are a big, athletic team – but it wasn’t that bad.”
Figure that will be a point of emphasis over the next week – the Bulldogs have an open date on Saturday, resuming Mountain West Conference play on Tuesday against San Diego State at the Save Mart Center.
“When we get to the basket and we have layups we have to finish them,” Hutson said. “We just have to finish strong.”
They had a ton of chances, pulling 17 offensive rebounds. But with those second chances, the Bulldogs scored only 10 points.
FOULED OUT OF RHYTHM
Fresno State was coming in off one of its best halves of basketball in that 79-64 victory over San Jose State.
The Bulldogs scored 51 points in the second half of that game, hitting 17 of 28 shots (60.7%) with 13 assists on the 17 field goals. Whether that would carry over was a question playing on the road against a team that was 13-3 and 10-0 on the home floor, and given some dreadfully slow starts this season in conference play.
But, it did.
The Bulldogs in the first five minutes hit 5 of 7 shots with only one turnover and were 8 of 17 in the first 10 minutes still with just one turnover.
How does that compare?
Fresno State in the first five minutes …
▪ vs. UNLV: 1 of 6, 1 turnover
▪ at Utah State: 2 of 9, 1 turnover
▪ at San Diego State: 1 of 4, 5 turnovers
▪ vs. San Jose State: 2 of 7
Totals: 6 of 26 (23.1%), 7 turnovers
Fresno State in the first 10 minutes …
▪ vs. UNLV: 1 of 12, 2 turnovers
▪ at Utah State: 6 of 18, 2 turnovers
▪ at San Diego State: 5 of 11, 6 turnovers
▪ vs. San Jose State: 4 of 15, 0 turnovers
Totals: 16 of 56 (28.6%), 10 turnovers
But the Bulldogs lost senior guard New Williams with a second foul at the 16:51 mark and freshman point guard Jarred Hyder with a second foul with 8:58 remaining in the half.
“The two fouls, both of those guys getting two fouls guarding really good players and New is hobbled a little bit, hurt,” Hutson said.
“You wanted to try to get out of the first half with them having only two since we were still in the game. You didn’t want them to pick up three and they’re an isolation team that would have went after both of them.”
Hyder had nine of the Bulldogs’ 22 points when he went to the bench.
What followed …
A turnover, a missed layup with an offensive rebound and a missed layup. There was a basket and a three, but from that 10-minute mark Fresno State was 6 of 19 (31.6%) with four turnovers.
One other notable stat: the Bulldogs out-rebounded New Mexico 44-34; it is the third time this season they have been plus-10 or better in rebounding margin and they have lost all three games.
CAMPBELL ON THE FLOOR, OFF THE MARK
Campbell, a redshirt freshman, played 28 minutes in his Fresno State debut and took on a large role at the offensive end.
The 6-foot-3 guard made only two of a team-high 14 shots and had a usage percentage of 35.4%, again, the highest on the team. He had no trouble driving by New Mexico defenders to get into the paint and to the rim, a good sign, but like all of the Bulldogs had difficulty finishing.
“I thought he did some good things early and I thought he faded late,” Hutson said. “It was one of his first college basketball games. I’m glad he had a chance to get out there and play, but wish he would have made a few more.”
Campbell had played in only six games and a total of 21 minutes at Oregon State last season before leaving at mid-semester.
He is one of three mid-year transfers in the Mountain West and the last one to get on the floor. New Mexico guard Vante Hendrix made his debut on Dec. 17 and Boise State forward Abu Kigab played in his first game Dec. 22.