FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Oakland freshman Darrell Tucker scored 15 points and pulled a career high 23 rebounds with frontcourt mate James Lee adding 16 points and 9 rebounds to help pace USF (6-1) to a 69-59 victory over Fresno State Wednesday night in Fresno.

Tucker, who started in place of center Kenyon Jones, recorded 13 rebounds in the first half, equalizing his career high in the season opener at Maryland.

San Francisco (6-1) led by as many as 20 points in the second half. But the Dons had to hold off a late Fresno State (4-4) run to seal the victory.

Courtney Alexander led Fresno State with 22 points despite making just two of his first 10 shots.

San Francisco had a 12-point lead with five minutes left in the first half but Fresno State cut the margin to 32-27 by halftime. The Dons bounced back in the second half, opening with a 16-1 run.

Nick Irvin then sparked an 18-6 Fresno run. He scored 10 of his 12 points in a seven minute span. Fresno closed to within eight points with just under eight minutes left in the game. Fresno got within six with 2:45 left. But the Dons' Ali Thomas stepped in, scoring six points in the final two minutes. The win was sealed.

The Dons dominated the boards, outrebounding Fresno State 52-30.

"We played great team defense tonight," said Mathews. "We have been living on our defense while our offense jells, but the defense has done the job."

USF's defense was especially effective at the start of the second half when the Dons outscored the Bulldogs 16-1 to take a 20 point lead, 48-28 with 14:40 remaining.

"It was a total team effort," continued Mathews. "The frontline of Tucker, Hinder, Jones, and Lee controlled thye boards. We outrebounded them 52-30 in their own building. LyRyan Russell made their press ineffective. We tell our team to go out there everyday and play hard, and on nights like this we all can see the results."

The Dons held the Bulldogs to just 35% shooting from the floor, and if not for making just 12 of 22 free-throws might have won by more. USF takes a week off for finals before hosting Rhode Island Tuesday night at Memorial Gymnasium.