Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Headed to Vegas
12/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2007
Click Here to Access with a PPV Subscription
Click Here to Access with your Fresno State Annual or XXL Annual Subscription
FRESNO, Calif. - The Bulldogs conclude the week when they play UNLV, the defending Mountain West Conference champion, Saturday at 7 p.m. That game will be played at the Orleans Arena instead of the Rebels' home court, the Thomas & Mack Center. Fresno State's home game is just one of three in the month of December for the Bulldogs, who won't return to the Save Mart Center until Dec. 20 after Wednesday. After the UNLV game, the Dogs have some tough games -- at Arizona, home against Pacific and at Stanford before begining league play at La Tech on Jan. 3.
Saturday's game will be live in the Bulldog Sports Network. "Hitting the Hardwoods", a 30-minute pre-game show, begins at 6:30 p.m. PT. Ralph Wood and Bob Donewald return for their second season as the BSN broadcast team.
Children With Cancer Holiday Party
Fresno State's men's and women's basketball coaching staffs and student-athletes will host approximately 60 families on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. at the Save Mart Center for the innaugural Children with Cancer Holiday Party. The invited families have children with cancer who are being treated at Children's Hospital Central California. Steve Cleveland and Adrian Wiggins and their wives shopped this week buying toys for nearly 140 children. Both men's and women's teams will be on hand, hosting a dinner party with the families, playing games with the children and distributing toys. Santa Claus and Fresno State mascot Timeout will be there will both make an appearance at the party. This is a private function for members of the family only.
"This event should be very special," said Cleveland. "We are looking forward to building on this and helping families who need love and attention this time of the year. This is the season for giving and it's the least we can do to help. Our student-athletes and staff and looking forward to the evening."
Scouting the Rebels
After a 30-7 season, Sweet 16 appearance, and Mountain West Conference championship, UNLV is off to a 5-2 start to the 2007-08 season. The two losses were to Louisville and UC Santa Barbara. Three Rebels average double figures in scoring, led by guard Curtis Terry at 13.3 points per game and a team-best 16 three point field goals and 23 assists. All-MWC guard Wink Adams averages 12.9 points per game. The Rebels are coached by Lon Kruger, who has taken four teams to the NCAA tournament, three of those to a Sweet 16 appearance. He guided Florida to the 1994 Final Four. He spent three season as head coach of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks (2001-03). The Rebels play at Northern Arizona on Wednesday of this week and will play at Arizona three days after the Bulldogs and Wildcats play (Dec. 16). The Rebels beat Northern Arizona 83-74 Wednesday night in Flagstaff, Ariz. to improve to 6-2 on the season.
Against the Rebels
The Fresno State vs. UNLV rivalry dates back many decades and has been dominated by the Rebels, who have won 25 of the 31 meetings. The two schools have not played since the 1998 season when both were members of the Western Athletic Conference. The series began in 1965 and was in its prime in the 1980s when the teams were members of te Big West Conference. Legendary Bulldog coach Boyd Grant and Rebels' coach Jerry Tarkanian squared off two and at times three times per year. Las Vegas has not been kind to the Dogs who have lost 14 consecutive games in Glitter Gulch and not won there since the first game in the series in 1965.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" -
The Fresno State men's basketball team will travel to play Arizona on Sunday, December 16 at 12 p.m. Catch the game on the Bulldog Sports Network, KFRE CW59.The Bulldogs return to the Save Mart Center on Thursday, December 20 against Presbyterian College at 7 p.m. All tickets are just $5 for this game. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at (559)485-TIXS, or in person at the Save Mart Center box office.
