TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ This time, Fresno State didn't have to beat the clock to beat Tulsa.

Unlike last year's three down-to-the wire wins over the Golden Hurricane, Fresno State out-hustled and outmanned Tulsa from the start for a 93-79 Western Athletic Conference victory Saturday.

Coach Jerry Tarkanian came to Tulsa filled with dread, uncertain what his team faced in seeking its ninth-straight win.

``This was a game I was very, very concerned about,'' he said. ``I thought from an emotional standpoint we could be walking into an ambush.''

But any vengeance Tulsa (9-5, 0-1) had in mind for last year's losses, including the WAC championship game, dissolved as Fresno State (13-2, 2-0) jumped to an early lead and never let up.

The Golden Hurricane couldn't overcome Melvin Ely's domination in the middle or Chris Jefferies' 3-point shooting down the final stretch.

Jefferies led four Bulldogs in double-digit scoring with 19 points, scoring four 3-point baskets that helped stave off a late Tulsa rally. Melvin Ely scored 14 points, despite spending much of the second half on the bench with foul trouble.

Tito Maddox and Demetrius Porter each added 16 for the Bulldogs.

``We expected them to be very balanced, but what happened is they got the ball inside to Ely early,'' said Tulsa's Marcus Hill.

Tulsa trailed throughout the game and was down by 21 points with 8 1/2 minutes remaining when Hill sank a 3-point shot that launched a 19-6 Tulsa run.

Tulsa came within 8 points but then Jefferies hit another 3-pointer and Fresno State made its free throws to run away with the win.

Greg Harrington added 16 points for Tulsa and Kevin Johnson scored 12.

Tulsa coach Buzz Peterson said he thought his team played well enough in the second half to win but couldn't overcome Fresno State's 50-33 halftime lead.

``I think in the first half that we just lost control of our focus and that cost us the ball game,'' Peterson said.

Fresno State's defensive control under the basket forced Tulsa into taking desperate shots from 3-point range throughout the game. The Golden Hurricane made only 9 of 26 3-point attempts.

The Bulldogs also held Tulsa's leading scorer, David Shelton, to just 6 points for the game.