Final Score: Fresno State and Colorado State, 64-56

LAS VEGAS -- The end of the first half was emblematic of where this game might end up.  Colorado State, although starting the game strong, finished the first half with just a one point lead.  Fresno State, meanwhile, had climbed back into the game because of the eventual abysmal Rams' shooting; they were just 28% from the field and 26% from beyond the arc in the first half.

By the end of the first half, the Marvelle Harris show began.  He finished the first half with 13 points, and he carried his offensive success over into the second half finishing with 19 points.  Harris also received help from Julien Lewis as well as his big man, Karachi Edo.

This game was a tale of two halves.  Like the Rams had come out swinging in the first portion of the first half, the Bulldogs returned the favor and went up by 9 with just 11 minutes left in the game.  The Rams inability to get anything going on offense stagnated their counter to Fresno State's extra push, and this was problematized by Emmanuel Omogbo's presence on the bench with what is being called an ankle injury.

Yet, it never felt like Fresno State had total control of this game.  The Rams were always lurking, just trying to climb over the hump of a few points.  With just 50 seconds to play, they were within four points of the Bulldogs.  Unfortunately, an untimely turnover with just 30 seconds left was the start of the end.  In a hard fought game, the Bulldogs prevailed 64-56.

Fresno State now goes onto the championship game tomorrow at 3 pm.  This semifinal game lacked the luster and energy in the arena with comparison to the first semifinal game where SDSU Aztec fans filled the lower bowl of the Thomas and Mack.  Unless there are extra drivers on the road Saturday morning coming from Fresno, Bulldog fans will be greatly outnumbered, making tomorrow's championship game feel like a home game for San Diego.