Williams, Huggins keep Fresno State rolling in win over Cal
AP
Dec 20, 2018
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) Noah Blackwell is making sure Fresno State Bulldogs's offense doesn't miss a beat while point guard Deshon Taylor recovers from a dislocated left elbow.
The Bulldogs are also getting more production out of their big men to help make up for the loss of Taylor's 18 points a game.
Blackwell had 13 points and career-highs of nine assists and seven rebounds and Fresno State won its sixth straight, beating California Golden Bears 95-73 on Wednesday night.
''Just being more of a leader and being better on the defensive end,'' Blackwell said after his second start running the Bulldogs offense. ''I feel like if I do that we have a good chance to win.''
New Williams scored a career-high 19 points for the Bulldogs. Braxton Huggins shook off a sluggish shooting night to score 18 while Nate Grimes added 17 points with five rebounds.
Taylor, Fresno State's second-leading scorer, was injured in practice earlier this month and could be sidelined up to four weeks.
The Bulldogs beat Cal Poly on Dec. 8 in their first game without Taylor, then backed it up with an emphatic win over the Golden Bears. It's Fresno State's second win in eight games against Cal.
''We settled down,'' Bulldogs coach Justin Hutson said. ''They came out and drove us, caught us on our heels. We didn't panic. We were able to get on our run and settle down.''
Paris Austin tied his career-high with 20 points for California (4-6). Justice Sueing also had 20 while Andre Kelly scored 11.
''At the end of the first half is when we stopped sharing the ball and that's where they made their run,'' Bears coach Wyking Jones said. ''It is concerning because that's how we played at the beginning of the season. I would think that we would have learned at this point that we have to move the ball to be good.''
It's the first time the two teams have played since Cal defeated Fresno State 65-57 on Nov. 30, 2014.
The difference this time was striking.
Playing for the first time in nearly two weeks, Fresno State (8-2) pulled away midway through the first half and led by as much as 25 while beating a Pac-12 team for the first time since 2016.
Cal played without 7-foot-3 center Connor Vanover, who is in concussion protocol after suffering a broken nose while going for a loose ball against Cal Poly on Saturday. Vanover had started each of the previous two games.
BIG PICTURE
California: The Bears started off well enough but faded quickly and never recovered in their most lopsided defeat this season. The problems were wide-ranging, from a lack of ball security, little movement on offense and a lack of size inside that Fresno State took full advantage of. Grant Anticevich, pressed into duty with Vanover out, lost his cool in the first half and drew a technical foul that was symbolic of Cal's night.
Fresno State: The Bulldogs have been on quite a roll since losing to Miami on Nov. 23 in the Wooden Legacy but they've looked particularly sharp lately. They've won their last three games by an average of 21.3 points and are getting balanced scoring. Huggins gave Fresno State a scare when he limped off the court in the second half but he returned to finish the game.
GET TO THE LINE
Fresno State repeatedly drove deep into the paint and were able to get to the foul line as a result. The Bulldogs held a 38-18 advantage in free throw attempts and made 29 of them.
LOB CITY
Grimes did a lot of his scoring in the paint, including two spectacular dunks on alley-oop lob passes from Blackwell. Grimes had a thunderous one-hander late in the first half then added a more traditional two-hand dunk off Blackwell's pass in the first minute of the second half.
AUSTIN PROVIDES SPARK
Austin had a quiet first half but gave Cal a much-needed lift in the second half. He scored 14 points after the break, including nine straight during one stretch. Austin also did a good job mixing it up and finding the open man when Fresno State's defense collapsed.
UP NEXT
California: The Bears return to Haas Pavilion to host San Jose State on Friday.
Fresno State: Hosts Tennessee-Martin on Saturday.
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1st Half
CAL
Golden Bears
32
FRES
Bulldogs
44
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by California
19:35
+2
Andre Kelly made floating jump shot
2-0
19:23
Sam Bittner missed layup
19:21
Defensive rebound by Paris Austin
19:11
+2
Andre Kelly made layup, assist by Paris Austin
4-0
18:56
Nate Grimes missed layup, blocked by Grant Anticevich
18:54
Defensive rebound by Paris Austin
18:50
Darius McNeill missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:48
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
18:27
Noah Blackwell missed jump shot
18:25
Defensive rebound by Paris Austin
18:10
+2
Grant Anticevich made driving layup
6-0
17:55
Braxton Huggins missed jump shot, blocked by Justice Sueing
17:53
Defensive rebound by Justice Sueing
17:49
Justice Sueing missed layup
17:47
Defensive rebound by Sam Bittner
17:42
+3
Braxton Huggins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Sam Bittner
6-3
17:04
Shot clock violation turnover on California
16:55
Noah Blackwell missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:53
Offensive rebound by New Williams
16:48
Out of bounds turnover on Braxton Huggins
16:19
+2
Darius McNeill made reverse layup
8-3
15:56
Shooting foul on Justice Sueing
15:56
Braxton Huggins missed 1st of 2 free throws
15:56
+1
Braxton Huggins made 2nd of 2 free throws
8-4
15:54
Lost ball turnover on Paris Austin, stolen by New Williams
15:43
Braxton Huggins missed jump shot
15:41
Defensive rebound by Justice Sueing
15:28
+2
Justice Sueing made driving layup
10-4
15:09
Flagrant foul on Braxton Huggins
15:09
Flagrant foul on Braxton Huggins
15:09
+1
Juhwan Harris-Dyson made 1st of 2 free throws
11-4
15:09
+1
Juhwan Harris-Dyson made 2nd of 2 free throws
12-4
15:04
Lost ball turnover on Paris Austin, stolen by Braxton Huggins
14:59
Lost ball turnover on New Williams, stolen by Matt Bradley
14:56
Offensive foul on Matt Bradley
14:56
Turnover on Matt Bradley
14:41
+2
Nate Grimes made layup, assist by Braxton Huggins
12-6
14:15
Traveling violation turnover on Justice Sueing
14:05
Shooting foul on Matt Bradley
14:05
+1
New Williams made 1st of 3 free throws
12-7
14:05
+1
New Williams made 2nd of 3 free throws
12-8
14:05
New Williams missed 3rd of 3 free throws
14:05
Offensive rebound by Johnny McWilliams
14:01
+2
Johnny McWilliams made dunk
12-10
13:57
Personal foul on New Williams
13:42
+2
Juhwan Harris-Dyson made running Jump Shot
14-10
13:28
+2
Noah Blackwell made jump shot
14-12
13:12
Shooting foul on Noah Blackwell
13:12
+1
Paris Austin made 1st of 2 free throws
15-12
13:12
+1
Paris Austin made 2nd of 2 free throws
16-12
13:04
Personal foul on Juhwan Harris-Dyson
12:52
+2
Sam Bittner made driving layup
16-14
12:28
Juhwan Harris-Dyson missed jump shot
12:26
Defensive rebound by Noah Blackwell
12:05
+2
Johnny McWilliams made finger-roll layup
16-16
11:43
Lost ball turnover on Justice Sueing, stolen by Lazaro Rojas
11:37
New Williams missed layup
11:35
Defensive rebound by Grant Anticevich
11:13
Darius McNeill missed layup, blocked by Lazaro Rojas
11:11
Defensive rebound by New Williams
11:07
Sam Bittner missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:05
Defensive rebound by Grant Anticevich
10:41
Grant Anticevich missed layup
10:39
Defensive rebound by Sam Bittner
10:39
Personal foul on Grant Anticevich
10:39
Unsportsmanlike technical foul on Grant Anticevich
10:39
+1
New Williams made 1st of 2 free throws
16-17
10:39
+1
New Williams made 2nd of 2 free throws
16-18
10:27
Lost ball turnover on Noah Blackwell, stolen by Juhwan Harris-Dyson
10:24
Juhwan Harris-Dyson missed layup
10:22
Defensive rebound by Noah Blackwell
10:16
Nate Grimes missed layup
10:14
Defensive rebound by California
9:52
+3
Justice Sueing made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Darius McNeill
19-18
9:37
+3
Noah Blackwell made 3-pt. fade-away jump shot
19-21
9:37
Shooting foul on Paris Austin
9:37
+1
Noah Blackwell made free throw
19-22
9:15
+2
Justice Sueing made driving layup
21-22
9:05
Braxton Huggins missed layup
9:03
Offensive rebound by Nate Grimes
9:03
+2
Nate Grimes made dunk
21-24
8:36
Personal foul on Nate Grimes
8:23
Justice Sueing missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:21
Defensive rebound by Noah Blackwell
8:12
+2
Nate Grimes made layup, assist by Braxton Huggins
21-26
7:44
Paris Austin missed jump shot
7:42
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
7:34
+2
Noah Blackwell made jump shot
21-28
7:12
Lost ball turnover on Matt Bradley, stolen by Braxton Huggins
7:12
Personal foul on Matt Bradley
7:12
+1
Braxton Huggins made 1st of 2 free throws
21-29
7:12
+1
Braxton Huggins made 2nd of 2 free throws
21-30
7:04
Personal foul on Sam Bittner
6:48
+2
Andre Kelly made jump shot, assist by Juhwan Harris-Dyson
23-30
6:18
Braxton Huggins missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:16
Defensive rebound by Juhwan Harris-Dyson
6:12
+2
Juhwan Harris-Dyson made driving layup
25-30
5:50
+2
Nate Grimes made jump shot
25-32
5:25
+2
Paris Austin made jump shot
27-32
5:02
+2
Nate Grimes made alley-oop shot, assist by Noah Blackwell
27-34
4:47
Paris Austin missed jump shot
4:45
Offensive rebound by Justice Sueing
4:28
+2
Paris Austin made driving layup
29-34
4:12
Nate Grimes missed jump shot
4:10
Offensive rebound by Sam Bittner
4:00
New Williams missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:58
Offensive rebound by Christian Gray
3:45
Braxton Huggins missed layup
3:43
Defensive rebound by California
3:31
+2
Justice Sueing made alley-oop shot, assist by Paris Austin
31-34
3:17
Shooting foul on Darius McNeill
3:17
New Williams missed 1st of 3 free throws
3:17
+1
New Williams made 2nd of 3 free throws
31-35
3:17
+1
New Williams made 3rd of 3 free throws
31-36
3:09
Bad pass turnover on Juhwan Harris-Dyson, stolen by Braxton Huggins
2:54
+2
Sam Bittner made driving layup
31-38
2:40
Paris Austin missed jump shot
2:38
Defensive rebound by New Williams
2:33
Shooting foul on Paris Austin
2:33
+1
New Williams made 1st of 2 free throws
31-39
2:33
+1
New Williams made 2nd of 2 free throws
31-40
2:04
Bad pass turnover on Jacobi Gordon, stolen by Christian Gray
1:46
Noah Blackwell missed jump shot
1:44
Defensive rebound by Justice Sueing
1:24
Darius McNeill missed jump shot
1:22
Defensive rebound by Noah Blackwell
1:15
Shooting foul on Grant Anticevich
1:15
+1
Braxton Huggins made 1st of 2 free throws
31-41
1:15
+1
Braxton Huggins made 2nd of 2 free throws
31-42
1:10
Personal foul on Noah Blackwell
52.0
Shooting foul on Christian Gray
52.0
Juhwan Harris-Dyson missed 1st of 2 free throws
52.0
+1
Juhwan Harris-Dyson made 2nd of 2 free throws
32-42
35.0
Shooting foul on Andre Kelly
35.0
Christian Gray missed 1st of 2 free throws
35.0
Christian Gray missed 2nd of 2 free throws
35.0
Defensive rebound by Andre Kelly
7.0
Juhwan Harris-Dyson missed jump shot
5.0
Offensive rebound by Justice Sueing
5.0
Shot clock violation turnover on California
1.0
Shooting foul on Juhwan Harris-Dyson
1.0
+1
Braxton Huggins made 1st of 2 free throws
32-43
1.0
+1
Braxton Huggins made 2nd of 2 free throws
32-44
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
CAL
Golden Bears
41
FRES
Bulldogs
51
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:53
+2
Sam Bittner made layup, assist by Noah Blackwell
32-46
19:22
Justice Sueing missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:20
Defensive rebound by Fresno State
19:12
+2
Nate Grimes made alley-oop shot, assist by Noah Blackwell
32-48
18:41
+2
Andre Kelly made driving layup
34-48
18:18
+3
Noah Blackwell made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Sam Bittner
34-51
17:43
Paris Austin missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:41
Defensive rebound by Braxton Huggins
17:34
Bad pass turnover on Nate Grimes, stolen by Darius McNeill
17:32
Lost ball turnover on Darius McNeill, stolen by Nate Grimes
17:24
+2
Noah Blackwell made driving layup
34-53
16:52
Andre Kelly missed jump shot
16:50
Offensive rebound by Justice Sueing
16:50
+2
Justice Sueing made dunk
36-53
16:34
+3
Braxton Huggins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Noah Blackwell
36-56
16:06
Grant Anticevich missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:04
Defensive rebound by New Williams
15:54
Bad pass turnover on Braxton Huggins
15:31
Shooting foul on Nate Grimes
15:31
+1
Justice Sueing made 1st of 2 free throws
37-56
15:31
+1
Justice Sueing made 2nd of 2 free throws
38-56
15:22
+2
Braxton Huggins made jump shot, assist by Noah Blackwell
38-58
15:02
Personal foul on Noah Blackwell
14:45
Justice Sueing missed jump shot
14:43
Offensive rebound by Andre Kelly
14:41
Grant Anticevich missed layup
14:39
Defensive rebound by Noah Blackwell
14:24
Braxton Huggins missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:22
Defensive rebound by Justice Sueing
14:18
Offensive foul on Juhwan Harris-Dyson
14:18
Turnover on Juhwan Harris-Dyson
14:06
New Williams missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:04
Offensive rebound by Christian Gray
14:02
Shooting foul on Juhwan Harris-Dyson
14:02
+1
Christian Gray made 1st of 2 free throws
38-59
14:02
+1
Christian Gray made 2nd of 2 free throws
38-60
13:52
Justice Sueing missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:50
Defensive rebound by Johnny McWilliams
13:39
Sam Bittner missed layup, blocked by Andre Kelly
13:37
Offensive rebound by Fresno State
13:28
Personal foul on Andre Kelly
13:17
Johnny McWilliams missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:15
Defensive rebound by Grant Anticevich
13:09
Shooting foul on Braxton Huggins
13:09
Paris Austin missed 1st of 2 free throws
13:09
+1
Paris Austin made 2nd of 2 free throws
39-60
12:44
+3
Braxton Huggins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Noah Blackwell
39-63
12:22
Offensive foul on Andre Kelly
12:22
Turnover on Andre Kelly
12:05
Sam Bittner missed layup, blocked by Andre Kelly
12:03
Offensive rebound by Sam Bittner
11:56
Braxton Huggins missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:55
Defensive rebound by Matt Bradley
11:55
Personal foul on Sam Bittner
11:34
Grant Anticevich missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:32
Offensive rebound by Justice Sueing
11:14
Personal foul on Sam Bittner
11:12
+2
Matt Bradley made fade-away jump shot
41-63
10:49
Braxton Huggins missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:47
Offensive rebound by Christian Gray
10:40
+3
Johnny McWilliams made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Noah Blackwell
41-66
10:25
Matt Bradley missed layup, blocked by Johnny McWilliams
10:23
Defensive rebound by Christian Gray
10:06
Johnny McWilliams missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:04
Defensive rebound by Paris Austin
9:58
+2
Andre Kelly made layup, assist by Paris Austin
43-66
9:58
Shooting foul on Aguir Agau
9:58
+1
Andre Kelly made free throw
44-66
9:58
Personal foul on Paris Austin
9:31
+2
Aguir Agau made finger-roll layup
44-68
9:16
Justice Sueing missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:14
Defensive rebound by Aguir Agau
9:13
Out of bounds turnover on Aguir Agau
9:13
+2
Matt Bradley made fade-away jump shot, assist by Paris Austin
46-68
9:01
+2
Nate Grimes made layup, assist by Aguir Agau
46-70
9:01
Shooting foul on Darius McNeill
9:01
+1
Nate Grimes made free throw
46-71
8:50
Shooting foul on Aguir Agau
8:50
+1
Justice Sueing made 1st of 2 free throws
47-71
8:50
+1
Justice Sueing made 2nd of 2 free throws
48-71
8:46
Personal foul on Justice Sueing
8:46
+1
Johnny McWilliams made 1st of 2 free throws
48-72
8:46
Johnny McWilliams missed 2nd of 2 free throws
8:46
Defensive rebound by Roman Davis
8:40
Paris Austin missed jump shot
8:38
Offensive rebound by California
8:31
Justice Sueing missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:29
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
8:18
Traveling violation turnover on New Williams
8:11
+2
Paris Austin made driving layup
50-72
8:00
Personal foul on Darius McNeill
8:00
+1
New Williams made 1st of 2 free throws
50-73
8:00
+1
New Williams made 2nd of 2 free throws
50-74
7:47
Matt Bradley missed jump shot
7:45
Defensive rebound by Noah Blackwell
7:40
New Williams missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:38
Offensive rebound by Noah Blackwell
7:36
Noah Blackwell missed jump shot
7:34
Defensive rebound by California
7:27
+2
Paris Austin made driving layup
52-74
7:08
Braxton Huggins missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:06
Defensive rebound by Roman Davis
6:56
+2
Paris Austin made driving layup
54-74
6:34
Lost ball turnover on Braxton Huggins, stolen by Paris Austin
6:29
Offensive foul on Justice Sueing
6:29
Turnover on Justice Sueing
6:28
Bad pass turnover on Sam Bittner, stolen by Justice Sueing
6:25
+2
Paris Austin made layup, assist by Matt Bradley
56-74
6:13
+2
Sam Bittner made driving dunk, assist by Christian Gray
56-76
6:01
Shooting foul on Christian Gray
6:01
Paris Austin missed 1st of 2 free throws
6:01
+1
Paris Austin made 2nd of 2 free throws
57-76
5:31
Braxton Huggins missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:29
Offensive rebound by Sam Bittner
5:18
Braxton Huggins missed layup, blocked by Roman Davis
5:16
Offensive rebound by Fresno State
5:01
Lost ball turnover on Johnny McWilliams, stolen by Paris Austin
4:56
+2
Matt Bradley made driving layup, assist by Paris Austin
59-76
4:45
Personal foul on Juhwan Harris-Dyson
4:45
+1
Sam Bittner made 1st of 2 free throws
59-77
4:45
+1
Sam Bittner made 2nd of 2 free throws
59-78
4:33
Personal foul on Noah Blackwell
4:33
Darius McNeill missed free throw
4:33
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
4:10
Out of bounds turnover on Braxton Huggins
4:03
Bad pass turnover on Matt Bradley, stolen by Nate Grimes
4:01
Lost ball turnover on Nate Grimes, stolen by Justice Sueing
3:55
+2
Justice Sueing made driving layup
61-78
3:34
+2
Nate Grimes made layup, assist by Noah Blackwell
61-80
3:34
Shooting foul on Roman Davis
3:34
Nate Grimes missed free throw
3:34
Defensive rebound by Roman Davis
3:14
Shooting foul on Nate Grimes
3:14
+1
Paris Austin made 1st of 2 free throws
62-80
3:14
+1
Paris Austin made 2nd of 2 free throws
63-80
2:48
+2
Christian Gray made driving layup, assist by Noah Blackwell
63-82
2:48
Shooting foul on Justice Sueing
2:48
Christian Gray missed free throw
2:48
Defensive rebound by Roman Davis
2:38
+2
Roman Davis made driving layup
65-82
2:22
+3
New Williams made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Sam Bittner
65-85
2:09
+2
Paris Austin made jump shot
67-85
2:01
Traveling violation turnover on Noah Blackwell
1:56
Darius McNeill missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:54
Defensive rebound by Sam Bittner
1:44
+3
New Williams made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Christian Gray
67-88
1:35
Matt Bradley missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:33
Defensive rebound by Christian Gray
1:33
Personal foul on Roman Davis
1:33
+1
Christian Gray made 1st of 2 free throws
67-89
1:33
+1
Christian Gray made 2nd of 2 free throws
67-90
1:25
+3
Justice Sueing made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Paris Austin
70-90
1:18
Personal foul on Paris Austin
1:18
+1
Johnny McWilliams made 1st of 2 free throws
70-91
1:18
+1
Johnny McWilliams made 2nd of 2 free throws
70-92
1:07
Roman Davis missed layup, blocked by Christian Gray
1:05
Defensive rebound by New Williams
1:03
Personal foul on Roman Davis
1:03
New Williams missed 1st of 2 free throws
1:03
+1
New Williams made 2nd of 2 free throws
70-93
53.0
+3
Jacobi Gordon made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Matt Bradley