Dec. 23, 2004

Final Stats

John Cox scored a career-high 35 points as San Francisco defeated Fresno State to extend a seven-game winning streak on Thursday night. The 35 points are the most by a USF player since Kenyon Jones scored 37 vs. Nevada in 1999.

Tyrone Riley added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Dons.

The win streak is the longest for the Dons (8-3) since 1999-00, when they won 12 straight. The win avenges a 52-43 win by Fresno State last season.

Fresno State (6-3) began the season 6-0 but lost their third consecutive game.

Ja'Vance Coleman led the Bulldogs with 27 points and nine rebounds but he also committed nine turnovers.

The Bulldogs are just 1-9 all-time at War Memorial Gym.

The Dons started the second half as sluggish as the first going 0-of-4.

With a 3-point play, John Cox sparked the Dons as they went on a 7-0 run to take the lead 36-35 on a driving layup by Johnny Dukes.

There were five lead changes and the game was tied with eight minutes remaining.

Cox scored a mid-range jumper with 7:37 remaining to start another 7-0 run to give San Francisco the lead for good.

With 2:56 remaining, Ja'Vance Coleman fouled John Cox who was attempting a 3-pointer.

Cox made the most of it converting all three of his attempts from the free throw line, giving San Francisco a 61-53 advantage.

Coleman scored a 3-pointer with one minute and San Francisco leading by seven points. Tyrone Riley made a pair of free throws to seal the win.

Fresno State committed 23 turnovers to San Francisco's 11.

San Francisco took an early lead on a pair of free-throws before Fresno State reeled off a 10-0 run. The Dons did not score their first basket for nearly four minutes until a layup by Jerome Gumbs.

San Francisco was also victimized by poor shooting and made just four of its first 18 shots. The Dons' only outside shot was a 3-pointer by Cox.

Fresno Stare was the exact opposite going 7-of-11 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the 3-point arc. Ja'Vance Coleman nailed a 3-pointer as time expired and the Bulldogs took a 35-26 lead into the locker room.

USF is off until January 1st when they play at Texas Tech. USF then will host Penn January 4th in its final nonconference game.