Dec. 16, 2000

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Chris Jefferies scored 19 points and Demetrius Porter had 15 to lead Fresno State to a 87-67 non-conference victory over UAB Saturday night.

Fresno State (6-2) took control of the game midway through the first half with a 17-point run. Jefferies hit three free throws and Porter added two 3-pointers as Fresno opened up a 37-21 lead.

LeAndrew Bass led UAB(4-3) with 24 points and P.J. Arnold added 13.

Fresno State held UAB without a field goal for more than seven minutes before Bass hit a short jumper with just less than three minutes left in the half. Arnold hit a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer in the final 1:03 of the half to cut the lead to 41-30.

UAB narrowed it to 47-39 but Jefferies converted a 3-point play to start a 7-0 Bulldog run and the Blazers never got closer than 13 points.

UAB put together its best run of the game to take a 21-20 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the first half before the Bulldogs' 17-point rally.

Noel Felix added 11 points for Fresno State and Melvin Ely scored 10 to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds.