Take three on Fresno State victory over New Mexico: Let Lobos swing and miss
Fresno State was down by 17 points in the first half.
But the Bulldogs came back with a sizzling stretch to take down New Mexico 82-77 on Saturday at the Save Mart Center, winning back-to-back men’s basketball games in Mountain West Conference play for the first time this season.
The Bulldogs (8-14, 4-7 in the MW) made nine shots in a row, starting with a layup by freshman Orlando Robinson with 11:55 to go.
That stretch included four consecutive 3-pointers (two from freshman Niven Hart, one by Nate Grimes and then one by Jarred Hyder).
Robinson led the Bulldogs with 20 points and 15 rebounds, his fourth 20-point game this season and fourth double-double.
Grimes also had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Hyder had 15 points and five assists.
Here are three takeaways from the game …
DRAWING THE (3-POINT) LINE
The Bulldogs’ defensive plan was built around keeping New Mexico out of the paint — to keep the Lobos from driving the basketball and getting easy shots at the rim and then close out on shooters.
New Mexico is not exactly loaded with credible 3-point shooters, and JaQuan Lyle (suspension) and Vance Jackson (knee) both were out. Lyle is leading the Lobos in 3-point attempts, and Jackson had hit 6 of 7 threes when New Mexico beat the Bulldogs by 14 at The Pit in January.
The Lobos had four players available with 40 or more attempts from three, only one of them ranked in the Top 50 in the Mountain West in 3-point percentage – Keith McGee was tied for 45th at 35.7%.
It didn’t appear to be working at the start, much like what happened to the Bulldogs’ zone in their previous outing during a win at Air Force. New Mexico hit 6 of its first 10 threes in building a lead that hit 35-18 with 6:35 to go in the first half.
There’s something to delve into there: “I have to go back and look at the tape,” coach Justin Hutson said. “We’re inconsistent right now. That’s the bottom line. It’s playing against great competition. It’s young guys. Some of it is old guy mistakes. I have to make sure I cover up the coaching mistakes, whatever they are, and then everybody has to step up.”
But the Lobos kept firing away – the Bulldogs really didn’t much mind.
New Mexico had attempted the fewest threes and had shot them at the lowest rate in the Mountain West.
But the Lobos ended up taking a season-high 28, though they were just 4 of 12 in the second half.
Up 12 with 11:26 to go, the Lobos went just 1 of 6 from three the rest of the way.
That is when the Bulldogs didn’t miss for more than seven minutes. The last of the makes in that Fresno State run was a three from freshman Anthony Holland with 4:21 to go, trying the score at 71-71.
A NEW STREAK
Fresno State led New Mexico for a total of just 4:31, taking a lead late when New Williams was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 1:27 to go.
That’s never a good idea, obviously. Worse, when the shooter getting fouled is 0 of 8 from the 3-point line.
The senior guard hit two of the three foul shots to put the Bulldogs up 75-73. And the next trip down the floor, with the score tied again, Williams knocked down a three that put Fresno State in the lead for good.
“Tough shot,” Hutson said.
BULLDOGS’ ROTATION
Hutson for a second game in a row played for the most part six deep with starters on the floor for between 26 (Grimes) and 35 minutes (Hyder). Grimes would have played more had he not been in foul trouble.
Holland played 22 minutes, and whether or not some of the banged-up Bulldogs are ready, Hutson is forcing some pieces together now that it is February.
“We are where we’re at,” Hutson said. “We have to move forward. There are too many ifs, ands and buts. If you go back and look at the film there are a lot of opportunities that we’ve had. But as you watch the film and the previous games you go, ‘Where was Noah?’ He wasn’t there. What happened to New? Nate wasn’t playing in that game?’
“We want to settle into a rotation. There’s no question and we want to be consistent in what we’re doing and we want to start flowing and defending as a unit all the time, not just some of the time.”
Hutson played Hart for 11 minutes and Jordan Campbell for nine.
Hart had a plus/minus of plus-11, second highest on the team.
Campbell, who was playing in only his seventh game, had to sit out longer than any other midyear transfer in the country while waiting for Fresno State to certify his eligibility.
“He’s not quite comfortable yet,” Hutson said. “I think everybody can see that, that’s sitting out there. But he can do more things. He can get in there and find people. He can play pick and roll. He’s becoming a better defender.
“It’s just a shame that he started playing a little later than he should, because the more games he plays, he’s going to get more comfortable. Right now, he just has to earn more minutes.”
This story was originally published February 1, 2020 at 12:00 AM.