Fresno State Clinches Thrilling Victory with Buzzer-Beater
In an exhilarating finish, Fresno State’s Jake Heidbreder delivered a jaw-dropping buzzer-beater, clinching a stunning 98-96 victory over UNLV on Tuesday evening in Fresno, California. The Bulldogs, who now hold a record of 11 wins and 11 losses (5-6 in the Mountain West Conference), demonstrated remarkable resilience by outscoring their opponents 9 to 4 in the last 23 seconds of the game.
Key Performers
Heidbreder was instrumental in the victory, contributing a total of 29 points. Alongside him, teammates Zaon Collins added 16 points, while both DeShawn Gory and Bastien Rieber chipped in with 15 points each. Wilson Jacques also scored 10 points as Fresno State showcased an impressive shooting performance, hitting 59% of their field goals and 53% of their three-pointers (8 of 15). Despite struggling with ball control, committing 15 turnovers against only 11 assists, the Bulldogs managed to fend off UNLV’s challenges.
UNLV’s Efforts
On the UNLV side, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn led the scoring with 28 points, supported by Howie Fleming Jr. with 23 points and Kimani Hamilton adding 14 points. With just 1.5 seconds remaining in the tightly contested match, David Douglas Jr. leveled the score for Fresno State with a remarkable 32-foot three-pointer, tying the game at 96.
Decisive Moments
Following an overturning play where UNLV’s Fleming Jr. accidentally overthrew a pass that rolled out of bounds, Fresno State regained possession for a final attempt. After the referees confirmed the call, Heidbreder executed a swift move, faking a screen to evade his defender before dashing to the baseline. He then delivered a smooth 14-foot shot that sealed the Bulldogs’ victory as time expired.
Looking Ahead
This nail-biting win sets the stage for UNLV, who will look to rebound against Grand Canyon on Saturday, while Fresno State prepares for a road game against Nevada on the same day.
