By Michael KlitzingStaff Writer
It was what the capacity crowd of 10,220 at Selland Arena had beenwaiting for all night. Early in the second half, the usually raucousFresno State faithful were sitting in stunned silence as upset-mindedSan Diego State held a 45-40 advantage Monday.
That’s when the Bulldogs awoke.
Fresno State proceeded to go on a turnover-aided 11-0 run, sendingfans into a frenzy and stripping SDSU of its momentum. The Aztecsnever recovered, and absorbed their first defeat of the young season,70-62.
“In a game like that, you can’t give up 11-0 runs,” said SDSUforward Randy Holcomb. “That hurt us a lot and we never really gotback into the game after that.”
The Bulldogs’ offensive outburst thwarted what looked to be anupset in the making. SDSU held a 28-27 lead at the half in what hadbeen a see-saw affair for most of the way.
Holcomb got the Aztecs (2-1) off to a fast start, accounting for12 of the team’s first 21 points despite early foul trouble. He ledall SDSU scorers with 21 points. The junior from Chicago was also aforce inside the paint, grabbing eight rebounds. Guard Myron Epps, anative of nearby Tulare, also turned in a strong performance in frontof family and friends, scoring 17.
The Aztecs as a whole, however, were plagued by poor shooting onthe night. They hit a paltry 38 percent from the field and were just12 of 19 from the free-throw line. Karlo Kovacic exemplified SDSU’swoes as the sharp shooting guard went 0-for-7.
However, Epps said, Fresno State’s pressure defense played a partin the Aztecs’ sloppy offensive play.
“Their defense just wore us down,” Epps said. “The first half, weplayed pretty well, but we came out a little lackadaisical in thesecond half.”
Demetrius Porter was Fresno State’s leading scorer with 21 points.Forward Chris Jeffries, who keyed the Bulldogs 11-0 run with twoconsecutive buckets, added 17 of his own.
Still,the Aztecs were able to stay close until the final minute. An Eppslay-up with 1:35 to play, pulled the team within five, 64-59, butFresno State’s Travis DeManby promptly drilled a three-pointer to icethe game.
Despite hanging tough for much of the game on the road against ateam fresh off an NCAA Tournament appearance, SDSU did not seemsatisfied with taking a moral victory.
“We already had confidence coming into the game,” Epps said.”We’re really upset right now because we feel that we’re just as goodas they are. We should have won the game.”
Holcomb’s return
Monday’s game was a homecoming of sorts for Holcomb. The juniortransfer spent two years at Fresno State, seeing considerable actionfor the Bulldogs during the 1998-99 season. He averaged 5.3 pointsper-game as a redshirt freshman.
It would have been no surprise if he had a little extra incentiveto stick it to his former team and former coach, Jerry Tarkanian. Butnot so, Holcomb said.
“I just treated it as though it was any other game,” he said.”Playing against my friends from Fresno State had no effect on how Iplayed. I just treated it like I didn’t know them.”
By the numbers
5 1/2 — Hours on the return bus ride for SDSU following the game.Their Tuesday morning flight out of Fresno was canceled due to fog.
10 — points scored by the Aztecs bench
27 — consecutive road losses for SDSU
36 — consecutive sellouts at Selland Arena
