By Morris Phillips

In the college game, the least important game on a team’s schedule can gain a great deal of importance if you lose it.  So with Cal spending their Thanksgiving weekend in Fresno and facing the struggling 1-5 Bulldogs, the proceedings seemed breezy, but the tone changed in the final minutes when Cal’s 15-point lead shrunk to five.

Over the final 10 plus minutes against Fresno State the Bears scored just eight points, but their defense never faltered in a 64-57 win that improved Cal’s early season record to 5-1.  The Bears held Fresno State to 36 percent shooting on the afternoon, blocked six shots and maintained a narrow edge (38-33) on the glass.

“It’s a win,” Coach Cuonzo Martin said.  “Anytime you can get a road win, get it and keep moving because I’ve always said the great thing about getting a win, if you don’t think you played great you can always bounce back, watch film and feel good about it.  It’s tough when you lose the game.”

For Fresno, the final minutes were another reminder that that they’ve been limited by the absence of starting point guard Cezar Guererro, who is ineligible to play for the first semester.  In the final three-and-a-half minutes, the Bulldogs missed six of their final seven shots and could never get closer than 60-55– the smallest deficit of the half—which came with just 1:12 remaining.

“As we got to the end in terms of executing, guys taking care of the basketball, we didn’t do so good a job,” Fresno State coach Rodney Terry admitted.  “We didn’t make the right decisions in terms of just taking care of the basketball and putting yourself in position to win the game.”

Cal was led by nearby prep product, Tyrone Wallace, who contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds.  David Kravish added 14 points.

For Fresno, senior guard Marvelle Harris was a one-man game, scoring 27 points and adding five rebounds.

The Bears return to action on Wednesday, when they face Montana at Haas Pavilion.