When he was introduced as the new Fresno State Men’s Basketball coach last April, Ray Lopes promised the crowd that he was here to cut down the nets. As he held high the piece of net he had cut from the rim after his Oklahoma Sooners won the Western Regional just a few weeks earlier, most Fresno fans wondered how long it would take.
The wait is over!
In his first season as the Bulldog’s coach Lopes has delivered on his promise amidst clouds of doubt. Picked to finish fifth in the WAC, the Bulldogs(20-6, 13-3 WAC) have led the conference from start to finish and won the WAC title on the night that saw the Dogs win their 20th game of the season
Three players from each team fouled out and nine players scored in double figures but Damon Jackson stole the show in his final home appearance. Jackson has made a name for himself by hitting game winning shots but no shots were bigger than the two 3-point baskets he made to send the game into overtime and again into the second overtime. Jackson’s 28 points led the Bulldogs and his heroics have led the team all season long.
Kirk Snyder led all scorers with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Snyder had the opportunity to win the game for the Wolfpack(15-11, 10-6 WAC) but his 18-foot attempt fell far short of it’s intended target.
In the first overtime period, the Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 5-point lead but Nevada’s Terrance Green responded with eight straight points. After trading baskets, the Bulldogs were down with under 12 seconds to play when Jackson hit his sixth 3-point basket of the night to tie the game and send it into a second overtime period.
This time the Bulldogs would ensure the victory! With a key three-point basket from -Travis DeManby and with a 7-of-8 free throw shooting display from Rolando Todd down the stretch, the Bulldogs pulled away from the Wolfpack and the celebration began.
The Bulldogs have little time to celebrate however. Wednesday, Fresno State travels to Tulsa to take on the Golden Hurricane before finishing the regular season at Rice on Saturday. Needing the WAC Tournament Championship to guarantee themselves the conference’s automatic berth, the Bulldogs need to prove to the NCAA selection committee that they are worthy of an at-large berth if the tournament championship should elude them. Currently owning a three game lead over the next closest conference opponent and already owning the regular season championship, the Bulldogs weak out-of-conference schedule might prevent them from earning an at-large berth and making their way to their sixth NIT bid in eight years if they don’t win the conference tournament to be held in Tulsa on March 12-16.
That is why these final two games are of extreme importance. Fresno State has one final chance to impress the selection committee after suffering a one-point loss at Creighton – winning their final two regular season games on the road and making a strong showing in the WAC Tournament (making the championship game). Still, nothing short of a tournament title will assure the Bulldogs a berth in the Big Dance but a 24-7 record and the conference regular season title would go a long way in the selections committees mind.
Whatever the outcome, Ray Lopes and the 2002-03 Bulldogs have made the Red Wave proud. Starting with few expectations and then scoring 20 wins and bringing the school it’s first ever WAC Regular Season Championship these Bulldogs will go down in the annals of Bulldog Basketball as one of the best.
Other Notables
Freshman Terry Pettis continues with his inspired play. Pettis finished the game with 21 points, 10 assists and only three turnovers in 39 minutes of play. It was Pettis’ fourth straight game with 15 or more points and his sixth game with 15 or more overall.
Noel Felix dropped in 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs. The foul-prone Felix finished the game with four fouls and contributed to the end despite three teammates fouling out.
Five seniors made their final regular season appearances at Selland Arena: Damon Jackson, Hiram Fuller, Noel Felix, Travis DeManby and Eric Contente – you will all be missed!