Senior night: A bittersweet ending

The college basketball regular season has come to a close.

For some Bulldogs basketball players, this was the last time they would be playing in the Save Mart Center.

Fresno State finished up its basketball season Saturday night with senior night, which is more than just basketball. It’s a connection to this arena, to this city, and to players’ teammates and coaches. It’s a bitter-sweet ending for seniors who play their last game in this arena.

It was an emotional night for both players and coaches. Justin Hutson, Bulldogs head coach, said as much as he didn’t want to get emotional. It was inevitable.

“It was emotional for me,” Hutson said. “And I didn’t know it would be that way. I can’t speak for them you know. But for me, some emotion came over me.”

Hutson highlighted Isaiah Hill, who was sitting next to him on the podium. Hutson has coached Hill for four years at Fresno State.

“I think he’s grown a lot on and off the floor,” Hutson said. “He has wonderful parents. You know we recruited a good one that already had some talent. He already had a lot of character when he got here. So just going through all the things that we’ve been through. A lot of games. You’re going to miss him.”

Although the Dogs suffered a big loss falling to the Wyoming Cowboys 86-47, Hill did not let the fans’ pride and love for the team go unnoticed.

“I mean that means a lot,” Hill said. “Knowing that we were getting beat by 30-plus or whatever it was and they still stayed there. That says a lot about this city, too, as well. Giving me a standing ovation and the other seniors so I appreciate that.”

For four of the seniors, it was their final game at home, but the fans helped those players know that they will not be forgotten.