Fresno State Athletics
Men's Basketball Opens WAC Play Thursday Against Idaho
1/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2007
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Up Next For The Bulldogs: Fresno State opens Western Athletic Conference play Thursday, January 4 when it hosts Idaho at 7 p.m. at the Save Mart Center. The Bulldogs will face Utah State in their second WAC game of the season Saturday, January 6 at 7 p.m. at the Save Mart Center. Fresno State went 11-2 during the non-conference schedule, which included a seven-game winning streak to begin the season. Idaho enters conference play with a 2-10 record, while Utah State carries a 10-3 record into the week. Utah State plays at Boise State on Thursday night before heading to Fresno.
Messed Around and Got a Triple-Double: Fresno State junior forward Dominic McGuire recorded a triple-double Saturday in a 68-65 victory over San Diego. McGuire didn't have a conventional triple-double, he recorded 14 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in the victory. It was the first triple-double for Fresno State since 1994 and the first ever points, rebounds, blocked shots triple-double in school history. McGuire helped the Bulldogs finish non-conference play 11-2 and snapped San Diego's seven-game winning streak. McGuire became only the third player in school history to record a triple-double, with Dave Barnett recorded two in 1991 and Brian Santiago recorded one in 1994. McGuire's 10 blocks was also second in the record books, falling one short of the all-time mark of 11. McGuire was also the first player in the WAC to record a triple-double since Rice's Jason McKrieth recorded one in 2004.
Second WAC Player of the Week Honor; Third Overall: Fresno State junior forward Dominic McGuire was named the Western Athletic Conference men's basketball Player of the Week for December 25-31, announced by the conference Tuesday morning. The 6-8 forward earned his second career WAC Player of the Week award in his first season in a Fresno State uniform. McGuire recorded a triple-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in a victory over San Diego on Saturday, December 30. McGuire won this year's first honor after the first week of the season. The honor was also the third WAC Player of the Week award for Fresno State this season. Hector Hernandez won the other award.
Setting the Block High: Fresno State set a school-record with 15 blocked shots as a team against San Diego on Saturday, December 30, passing the old mark of 14 set against San Diego State in 1997. Dominic McGuire had 10, Hector Hernandez had three blocks and Quinton Hosley and Shawn Taylor had one block each. As a team the Bulldogs are averaging 6.8 blocked shots per game.
Let the WAC Games Begin: For the third straight year, Fresno State will open Western Athletic Conference play at home. The Bulldogs have won 11 straight WAC home openers and four straight overall WAC openers.
Who's Hot: Junior forward Hector Hernandez is averaging 23.5 points per game in the last two times Fresno State has taken the floor at the Save Mart Center. Hernandez is coming off a career 31-point effort against Cal Poly on December 23 and a 16-point effort against San Diego on December 30. Hernandez also averaged 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks during that stretch. Overall, the 6-9 forward is averaging 13.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
About the Vandals: Idaho comes into WAC play with a 2-10 overall record, and a 1-6 road mark. The Vandals are coming off a 72-67 victory over South Dakota State on Saturday. Offensively Idaho is led by Keoni Watson, who is averaging 16.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Darin Nagle is averaging 14.3 points per game in three games so far this year. Nagle returned to the lineup three games ago against North Dakota State. As a team the Vandals are averaging 61.2 points per game, while allowing 75.8 points.
About the Aggies: Utah State enters WAC play with a 10-3 overall record. The Aggies started the year with a loss, but then won eight straight games before going 2-2 over their last four. Utah State is led by Jaycee Carroll, who is the WAC's leading scorer, averaging 21.1 points per game. Carroll is also the conference's top free throw shooter and is fourth in 3-point field goal percentage. Stephen DuCharme is averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds and Durrall Peterson is averaging 9.0 points and 3.3 rebounds. As a team the Aggies are averaging 71.7 points per game, while allowing 64.5 points.
