Fresno State has bad night on offense in loss to USF – and that’s not the worst of it

Fresno State coach Justin Hutson said after a 67-60 loss to San Francisco on Wednesday at the Save Mart Center that freshman guard Joseph Hunter will have surgery next week to repair a thumb injury.

The 4-star recruit from San Joaquin Memorial High and preseason freshman of the year in the Mountain West Conference will miss the rest of the season.

Hunter already had missed practice time through the fall due to a medical issue.

“It’ll be the whole year,” Hutson said.

That is a significant blow to the Bulldogs, who made an adjustment midway through the loss to the Dons that helped them survive an 0 of 15 stretch with two turnovers in the first half only to falter through a messy end. But a bigger guard that can play downhill, get into the paint and finish, like Hunter, definitely would have helped.

Jordan Campbell took on a lot of that load in the second half, scoring 10 of his team-high 17 points with two assists. He hit an array of shots and was at his best in the paint, but he also was, really, alone.

The Bulldogs hit only 20 of 59 shots (33.9%) and that included a 10 of 24 at the rim on layups and dunks. They missed 14 shots, at point blank range. Point guard Isaiah Hill, who had a miserable night going 1 of 16 with two turnovers, missed eight of those shots at the rim on layups including two that were barely contested by the Dons.

Fresno State (1-2) still was in a one-possession game late, down 60-57 with 2:42 to go and the Bulldogs got a stop. But guard Jemarl Baker, who is playing his way back from a knee injury, missed a jumper from 15 feet. After another stop, Baker missed another jumper in the lane.

Anthony Holland then fouled USF guard Marcus Williams hastily shooting a three with the shot clock one tick from zero and a turnover. Williams at that point was 1 of 5, and 1 of 3 from the 3-point line.

Williams made all three foul shots, putting the Bulldogs down six.