Fresno State junior forward Orlando Robinson scored 22 points with nine rebounds and four assists in the Bulldogs’ 18-point win over CSUN to improve to 7-1 for the first time since 2006.
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State men's basketball team defeated the CSUN Matadors 61-43 on Saturday at the Save Mart Center.
With the win, Fresno State (7-1) is off to its best start to a season since opening 9-1 in 2006.
Fresno State junior forward Orlando Robinson scored a game-high 22 points with nine rebounds, four assist and two steals to climb into the Top 50 of the program's all-time scoring list.
Deon Stroud added 14 points for the Bulldogs, who remained undefeated at home (5-0) so far this season.
How it happened: Fresno State used a 31-6 run early on to take control and kept up the heat throughout the contest.
The Bulldogs, who outscored CSUN 20-6 in points off turnovers, trailed for just 13 seconds and led by double-digits for nearly all of the final 35 minutes of the game.
Fresno State had 15 assists on 24 made field goals and committed a season-low seven turnovers, while forcing 16 CSUN turnovers (14 in the first half).
Quotes:
Justin Hutson, Fresno State head coach
About the next two games coming up...
"I am excited about it and the guys would be. I think they need a rest. It becomes a stretch here. I think we had one day off in the past three and a half weeks. We go a little softer, but now they need tomorrow. We need to think about that these guys need to enjoy what they're doing tonight and tomorrow. We'll come back Monday and get ready for a good San Francisco team first. We'll start with them first."
Deon Stroud, Fresno State junior guard
On being from the Valley and the team being 7-1 for the first time in 15 years…
"Honestly, it is a great feeling. I have good teammates, they support me and I support them. As well as the coaching staff, we're all just having fun with it and serious at the same time."
Orlando Robinson, Fresno State junior forward
About battling former teammate Christian Gray in the paint...
"Christian is my boy. He knows that. Before the game I acted like I didn't know him. We battle all the time. After the game it is all love. I love battling against Christian, I battled him when he was here. We play one-on-one all the time. Today was all business, and Christian knew that. We're both 'Dogs like that so it was real fun."
Team Notes:
Fresno State improved to 5-0 at home this season.
Fresno State now leads the all-time series with CSUN 29-6 (overall), which includes a 19-3 record in home games played in Fresno (4-0 at the Save Mart Center). The Bulldogs have now won five of the last six meetings with CSUN.
Fresno State improved to 36-6 in head coach Justin Hutson’s tenure when recording a better assist-to-turnover ratio than its opponent (14 straight wins).
Fresno State also improved to 15-1 in Hutson's tenure when allowing under 60 points.
This was the fifth time Fresno State has held an opponent to under 50 points in Hutson's tenure (5-0 in those games) and second straight game.
The Bulldogs had four players score in double figures for the third time this season (3-0 in those games).
Fresno State outrebounded CSUN 34-33 to win the battle of the boards for the sixth time this season.
Fresno State outscored CSUN 32-20 in the paint and 20-6 in points off of turnovers.
Fresno State led for 38 of the game's 40 minutes.
Fresno State scored the most points it has had in a half all season with 39 in the first half.
Player Notes:
Orlando Robinson scored a team-high 22 points, scoring 20+ points for the fourth time this season.
Robinson has scored in double-figures in all eight games this season (17 consecutive games in his career).
Deon Stroud scored a season-high 14 points.
Stroud scored in double-figures for the second time this season.
Isaiah Hill scored in double-figures for the fourth time this season.
Anthony Holland had a season-high five assists.
Leo Colimerio tied his season-high with two steals.
Up Next: Fresno State visits San Francisco on Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT on the WCC Network (online stream) and Bulldog Sports Network (radio).