[ RAINBOW BASKETBALL ]
Al-Sayyad shows
up for FSUThe Sudanese center posts a
double-double in Fresno's win
With the seconds running down to zero and an 11-point lead, Chris Adams started tapping teammate Marcus West on the sides of his head, with both Fresno State basketball players cracking huge grins.
Mild celebration by Bulldog standards. After all, Fresno is a school whose players from previous eras were known for antics like jumping on the scorer's table after winning in paradise.
Under second-year coach Ray Lopes, FSU is quite calmer. But even if the Bulldogs had gotten a little giddy last night, who could blame them?
The 69-58 flogging of Hawaii came with two starters serving suspensions and was the first Fresno State win at the Stan Sheriff Center since the 2000-01 season.
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii's Michael Kuebler drove to the basket last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Junior Mustafa Al-Sayyad was there then, and he was there -- in much more noticeable form -- last night.
Al-Sayyad scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, just one fewer than the entire UH team. Combined with West's game-high 21 points, his effort spelled doom for Hawaii in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
"I was really looking forward to this," said Al-Sayyad, a soft-spoken but hard-bodied 6-foot-9 center from the Sudan. "That's how we win tough games. Rebounds and defense. They're not a small team, but it was our mentality. Everybody go after the ball.
"In the second half the game was getting closer and closer and what was going to win it was rebounding and defense."
What about playing without leading scorer Renaldo Major and Jonathan Woods?
"It was a challenge. We are a family and no matter what happens we have to be strong together," Al-Sayyad said.
As for West, he exceeded his per-game scoring average of 10.3 with 14 first-half points as Fresno State went into the break leading 37-33.
When Hawaii fought back to within two midway through the second half, West responded by stealing the ball and dunking it with 9:18 left to give the Bulldogs some breathing room at 51-47.
"Definitely a big win. Our two best guys aren't even here," West said. "We came here and got a WAC road win. Good way to start the season."
Lopes couldn't have been happier. Wins like this in January often bode well for March.
"We were really tough in a toughness game," Lopes said. "We haven't had a lot of good second halves, but we're getting better.
"We're still not a complete team."
But the Bulldogs certainly played like one.
"Fresno State always comes in here with a lot of energy," Hawaii coach Riley Wallace said.
Invisible big men: One reason Fresno State had such an advantage on the boards was the foul trouble of Hawaii center Haim Shimonovich.
He played only eight minutes of the first half because of two quick personals. Shimonovich got tagged with his third personal with 14:01 left in the game and his fourth with 8:20 left as Dreike Bouldin tried to dunk. Bulldogs point guard Shantay Legans fouled Shimonovich out with 4:27 left on a drive through the paint.
Shimonovich ended up with three rebounds in 21 minutes.
Hawaii forward Julian Sensley, although bothered by a shoulder injury, played all 20 minutes in the first half, but did not attempt a shot. He did have team highs of four rebounds and four assists.
Sensley's first shot from the field didn't come until there was 3:20 left in the game. His 3-point try from the left wing was short.
Bench lift: Jason Carter and Jeff Blackett gave UH some spark coming off the bench, but neither was consistent. Carter scored eight points and Blackett six, but Carter had four turnovers and Blackett two, and both fouled out.
Blackett hit a 12-footer and then Carter hit a trey from the top of the key to close the score to 49-47 with 9:52 left, forcing a Fresno State timeout.
Layups: The Rainbows fell to 12-13 in Western Athletic Conference openers with the win, including 10-5 at home.
The starting lineup of Logan Lee, Michael Kuebler, Phil Martin, Sensley and Shimonovich fell to 6-1.
Countryman: Al-Sayyad said he hasn't met Fairfield forward Deng Gai, who is also from the Sudan, but would like to. Gai made the all-tournament team of the Rainbow Classic last week as Fairfield lost to Hawaii in the championship game.
"I saw his stats," Al-Sayyad said. "He put on a pretty good show."
