HALAWA — Jaron Bryant's 44-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter sealed the Hawaii Bowl victory for the Fresno State Bulldogs as they barged by the Houston Cougars, 33-27, on Christmas Eve at Hawaiian Tel FCU Field at Aloha Stadium.

With the Bulldogs up by six and four minutes and counting left in the game, Cougars quarterback D'Eriq King fired a quick pass toward the right side of the field, but Fresno's Robert Stanley tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage. Bryant juggled the ball in the air but secured it and ran through three defenders on his way to the end zone.

The win gives Fresno State its 10th on the season, improving its record to 10-4 to complete the second best single-season turnaround in NCAA Division I FBS history after finishing 1-11 a year ago — the best being the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors' 0-12 to 9-4 turnaround from 1998–99.

"To go from one win to 10 wins is a great accomplishment," first-year Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford said. "These guys are such great kids. They've worked really really hard. I'm so proud of the effort that they gave all year-long."

For the better half of the game, both teams were evenly matched going point-for-point through the 7:57 mark of the third quarter after Houston's Caden Novikoff booted his second field goal of the game to tie it at 13.

Fresno responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive highlighted by completed pass of 29, 12 and 17 yards from quarterback Marcus McMaryion, who then kept it himself for a six-yard scoring run.

Miscommunication on the ensuing kickoff caused both Cougars returnmen to go after the ball with neither of them catching it. Fresno's Juju Hughes recovered it at the Houston 10-yard line.

Houston forced a three-and-out as Fresno kicker Jimmy Camacho lined up for his fourth field goal, but this time, it was blocked by a racing Jeremy Winchester off the right edge. The ball deflected into the arms of teammate Alexander Myres, who took it untouched for 94 yards.

Tied again at 20, the Bulldogs took their next two possessions and turned them into field goals for six total points before Bryant's interception score in the final quarter.

A pick-six to clinch the Hawaii Bowl?

Not a bad way to spend Christmas Eve. pic.twitter.com/QXRvplVQqz

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The Cougars made it interesting by scoring on a 16-play, 76-yard drive to give them a chance with 42 seconds left, but the onside kick was recovered by Fresno State to set-up victory formation.

Houston's defense featured Outland Trophy winner Ed Oliver. The award is given to the best interior lineman in college football.

Although scoring the first points of the game after lining up in the offensive backfield for a one-yard plunge, the sophomore All-American totaled four tackles with two of them for losses, but zero sacks.

Oliver was hampered not only in part due to a left foot ailment after stepping on a sea urchin earlier in the week, but also because of the play of Fresno's o-line which includes redshirt freshman left guard Netane Muti (Leilehua ‘16). The unit gave up only one sack on the evening.

The Cougars finish the season at 7-5 and are now 0-2 in the Hawaii Bowl.

The win is Fresno State's first in the bowl game and are now 1-2.