CBKB: Fresno State beats Boise State 71-68
Associated Press
FRESNO, Calif. — Paul George scored 21 points, capped by two three-point plays in the final minute, as Fresno State rallied past Boise State 71-68 Saturday night in both teams' Western Athletic Conference opener.
Mike Ladd added 18 points for Fresno State (8-7, 1-0), and Sylvester Seay had 14 and eight rebounds.
The Bulldogs trailed most of the game until George drove the lane and got a layup to roll in while drawing a foul on Robert Arnold with 48.5 seconds left. The resulting free throw gave Fresno State a 68-66 lead, its first since early in the first half.
After La'Shard Anderson's baseline jumper tied the game with 22.6 seconds to go, George again drove for a layup while drawing another foul on Arnold with 15.8 seconds left.
George, the Bulldogs' leading scorer, scored all five of his field goals in the final 6:46 and finished 11 of 12 from the free-throw line.
Boise State (9-5, 0-1) had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Anderson's off-balance three-pointer bounced off the rim as time expired.
Daequon Montreal led the Broncos with 24 points off the bench. Ike Okoye added 10 in 13 foul-plagued minutes.
Boise State saw its four-game win streak snapped after failing to protect a 50-40 lead in the final 10:41.
The Bulldogs surged back with a 10-2 scoring run that included a layup and three-pointer by Steven Shepp on consecutive possessions.
Ladd went 4 of 7 from beyond the arc and finished with three steals, including a key one in the final minute that set up George's go-ahead three-point play.
Point guard Anthony Thomas added eight points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Broncos, who outscored Fresno State 33-1 in points off the bench.
Thomas hit both of his three-pointers in a 3:18 span of the first half to give Boise State a 16-12 lead. The Broncos led 35-27 at halftime.