Dec. 23, 2005

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Quinton Hosley scored 25 points and Ja'Vance Coleman added 22 as Fresno State held off UC Santa Barbara for a 79-76 victory Friday night.

The Bulldogs (6-3) won their second straight home game despite nearly blowing a 20-point lead in the final 10 minutes.

Cecil Brown and Joe See had 14 points apiece for the Gauchos (4-5), who pulled to within 78-76 on See's three-pointer with 1:14 left.

Neither team scored again until Kevin Bell hit 1 of 2 free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining. UC Santa Barbara's Lance Hurdle missed a desperation shot from near half court at the buzzer.

Hosley scored his 25 points on just eight field-goal attempts. The 6-foot-5 junior also grabbed nine rebounds and finished 13 of 15 from the free-throw line.

Fresno State improved to 4-0 at the Save Mart Center, while the Gauchos dropped to 0-5 on the road.

UC Santa Barbara led 23-15 early before Fresno State mounted scoring runs of 16-0 and 13-2 late in the first half. The Bulldogs shot 61.5 percent in the first half, hitting 8 of 11 three-pointers, to take a 52-33 halftime lead.

Fresno State shot just 28 percent in the second half, going the final 6:32 without a field goal.

Chris Devine added 12 points and Derek Rasp 10 for the Gauchos, who outscored the Bulldogs 43-27 after halftime.