Matt Bradley contributed 10 points and three steals to help No. 21 San Diego State escape with a 45-43 victory over host Fresno State on Wednesday night in Mountain West play.
Nathan Mensah added eight points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots for the first-place Aztecs (21-5, 12-2 MWC), who won their fourth straight game and 17th of their past 20.
Isaiah Hill scored 16 points for Fresno State (9-16, 5-9), but his last-second 3-pointer bounced off the back iron. Eduardo Andre added 10 points and nine rebounds before fouling out for the Bulldogs, who have dropped eight straight games against San Diego State.
Overall, Fresno State has lost eight of its last 11 games.
The Bulldogs had two solid chances to notch the upset but came up short during a contest in which they made just 2 of 25 3-point shots.
Fresno State was trailing 44-43 when Jemarl Baker Jr. missed a 3-point attempt with just over five seconds left. Mensah grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 3.7 seconds left. He made the first of two free throws but missed the second, leaving the Aztecs with a two-point edge.
The Bulldogs got the rebound and called timeout with 3.3 seconds left. Fresno State in-bounded the ball to Hill in the backcourt and despite the defense of San Diego State’s Lamont Butler, Hill got near the 3-point line and put up the unsuccessful shot.
San Diego State shot just 32.7 percent from the field, including 5 of 11 from 3-point range.
The Bulldogs shot just 30.9 percent overall. Fresno State scored 60 or fewer points for the 14th time this season.
Bulldogs leading rebounder Isaih Moore missed his second straight game due to a hip injury.
Bradley scored five points during a 7-2 run, including a 3-pointer to cap it, as the Aztecs held a 40-33 advantage with 8:05 remaining in the contest.
The Bulldogs countered with the next eight points. Hill converted a three-point play and Anthony Holland drained a corner 3-pointer to cut San Diego State’s lead to one.
Baker hit a jumper to give the Bulldogs a 41-40 lead with 4:51 remaining. Darrion Trammell scored on a layup to put the Aztecs back ahead with 3:43 left.
Jaedon Ledee split two free throws with 2:07 left to give the Aztecs a 44-43 advantage.
Hill scored 11 first-half points as Fresno State led 25-23 at the break despite committing 10 turnovers. The Bulldogs held a 22-13 rebounding edge.
–Field Level Media
