Defense carries Fresno State to another win while adjusting to absence of Jemarl Baker
Fresno State choked the life out of Weber State on Thursday, which is not an inconsiderable task.
The Wildcats had come in averaging 77.6 points a game, put up as many as 100 points in a non-DI game and as many as 88 against UMass from the Atlantic-10. They have a guard who can score in Koby McEwen, a forward who was averaging a double-double in Dillon Jones.
But they had no answers in the Bulldogs’ 69-43 victory at the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah.
Weber State hit just 12 of 48 shots (25%) including 3 of 19 (15.8%) from the 3-point line, and turned over the basketball 10 times. The 43 points were its fewest in a game since it had just 37 in a loss at Montana in 2020.
But the Bulldogs (10-3) still have plenty of questions as they head into Mountain West Conference play, and while there might not have been any definitive answers they did fare much better at the offensive end than they did on Tuesday in a loss at Utah as they adjust with guard Jemarl Baker sidelined with a knee injury.
“Jemarl is one of our best offensive players, so we were doing stuff for him and all of a sudden we got Junior (Ballard) back and we know he can shoot it,” coach Justin Hutson said.
“We have to now try to adjust, knowing this is the group we’re going to have for a while, so what’s best for us that can keep us going? We’re better. We’re not where we need to be, and I’d much rather have Jemarl out there. But that’s kind of what happened.”
It helps, obviously, to make shots and the Bulldogs did that following a rough loss on Tuesday at Utah, hitting just 33.3% of their shots and scoring only 50 points.
Robinson led the Bulldogs with 22 points and nine rebounds against the Wildcats (9-4), three at the offensive end. But they also knocked down seven of their first 10 shots from the 3-point line, had 14 assists to seven turnovers. Point guard Isaiah Hill had a season-high six assists with just one turnover in 27 minutes. Anthony Holland hit 4 of 6 shots in scoring 10 points. Ballard had nine, with two assists.
But there have been games they did not shoot it well, where Robinson has been limited by double-teams, where they got to the rim easily and others where they did not.
They’re working through it, but Baker, the Arizona transfer, is expected to be out for an extended period and the Bulldogs after a Christmas break start Mountain West Conference play Dec. 28 at Boise State.
“It’s like you had a really good quarterback and he went out and your backup quarterback doesn’t do exactly the same thing so you have to adjust to what’s best for this group,” Hutson said. “We know they’re going to double (Orlando Robinson) at times. We know we’re going to move him around. But it was way different with Jemarl in there. We’ve had to make some adjustments, like any sport.
“We’re focusing in on, ‘These are our nine guys or so, so let’s see if we can get them to play comfortably.’”
Bulldogs notes
Fresno State, which went into the game hitting just 29.5% of its threes and ranked last in the Mountain West, had seven players knock down a shot from the 3-point line. Holland (2 of 3), Hill (2 of 5), Deon Stroud 2 of 3) and Ballard (2 of 4) all made two. Leo Colimerio was 1 of 1 from three, his first of the season after starting 0 of 9. …
Weber State had 10 turnovers, which the Bulldogs turned into 15 points. Fresno State was plus-10 in points off turnovers. …
The Wildcats’ 12 field goals were the fewest allowed by Fresno State since a 62-37 victory at Cal Poly on Dec. 14, 2019. The Mustangs were 12 of 49 in that game (24.5%). …
Up next for the Bulldogs
Opponent: at Boise State
Date: Dec. 28, 6 p.m.
TV: Mountain West Network
Radio: Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler, Marc Q Jones)
Find it fast: Fresno (AM1340), Bakersfield (AM970), Visalia (AM1130), Modesto (FM92.9), Stockton (AM1280), Bulldogs app, iHeartMedia app
About Boise State: The Broncos (10-4) have won six games in a row headed into their break, allowing opponents including Tulsa, Santa Clara and Washington State to hit just 36.5% of their shots and average 55.8 points. Boise State has three players averaging 10 or more points per game led by forward Abu Kigab at 14.8. The Broncos are third in the Mountain West with a plus-10.9 scoring margin and the top offensive rebounding team in the conference with 11.9 per game.
This story was originally published December 23, 2021 at 7:35 PM.