FRESNO, Calif.---- In Stan State's first exhibition game of the 2022-23 regular season, the Warriors lost to the Fresno State Bulldogs 69-62 this evening at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.
Benno Zecic scored a team high 15 points to lead the way for Stan State. Two other Warriors scored in double figures in
Kobe Ordonio with 13 points while
Travion Williams chipped in 10 points for Stan State.
FIRST HALF: Fresno State took a 12-6 lead in the first eleven minutes of the first half. A three by
Kobe Ordonio capped a 5-0 run by the Warriors as they cut the Bulldogs' lead to 12-11 with 8:22 left in the half. The hosts increased their lead back to six (17-11) on a dunk by Isaih Moore. A three by
Jeremiah Jones tied the game at 22-22 with less than a minute left in the first twenty minutes. The Bulldogs scored the final two points of the half to take a 24-22 lead into the locker room.
SECOND HALF: Back-to-back threes by
Benno Zecic and
Kobe Ordonio gave the Warriors a 30-28 lead in the first three minutes of the second half. They increased their lead to 35-30 on its next possession on an old-fashioned three-point play by
Travion Williams off one of Ordonio's four assists on the evening. Fresno State retook the lead, 37-35, with 14:03 on the clock. A three by Marlon Shot and a lay-up by
Jeremiah Jones increased the Warriors' lead to 40-37 in the next two minutes. A three by Destin Whitaker capped a 6-0 run by the Bulldogs as they retook the 43-40 lead. Zecic tied the game at 45-45 on an assist from Short mid-way through the second half. The Bulldogs outscored Stan State 13-5 in the next four minutes to take a 58-50 lead. They increased their lead to double digits (60-59) on a free throw by Isaiah Hill. A three by Zecic cut the Warrior deficit to 69-62, but it was a little too late as the Bulldogs took the 69-62 exhibition game victory.
DEFENSE: Stan State forced 14 turnovers by the Bulldogs and converted those into 11 turnovers. The Warriors held Fresno State to 50% shooting from the field including just 33% from three-point range. The Bulldogs shot just 40% in the first half including going 0-for-8 from three-point land. Stan State had five steals with two by
Jeremiah Jones and one each by
Benno Zecic,
Kobe Ordonio and
Mahda Fallay.
NINE ASSISTS/FOUR TURNOVERS: The Warriors had nine assists with just four turnovers while Fresno State had 13 assists and 14 turnovers.
Kobe Ordonio had four assists and no turnovers.
Marlon Short had three assists and one turnover while
Travion Williams had two assists and one turnover with
Benno Zecic dishing out two assists and had two turnovers.
TEN FROM BEYOND THE ARC: Stan State went 10-for-23 from beyond the arc 8-for-14 in the second half.
Kobe Ordonio and
Benno Zecic each made three three-point field goals and
Tony Singleton made two from three-point land.
Marlon Short and
Jeremiah Jones each added one made three.
THREE IN DOUBLE DIGITS: Benno Zecic paced the Warriors with 15 points, going six-for-13 from the field and three-for-seven from three-point land.
Kobe Ordonio added 13 points. He went five-for-12 from the field and three-for-eight from beyond the arc.
Travion Williams chipped in 10 points on four-for-six shooting from the field.
REGULAR SEASON HOME OPENER: Stan State will have its 2022-23 regular season home opener on November 11 at 7:30pm when the Warriors host Point Loma in the First Round of the Stanislaus State Crossover Classic. The first game of the classic will be at 5:30pm on November 11 as Cal State East Bay takes on Fresno Pacific. The second day of the classic will be on Saturday, November 12. Point Loma will face Cal State East Bay in the first game on Saturday. In the final game of the classic, Stan State will host Fresno Pacific at 7:30pm.
