Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Finish Homestand with Bison
12/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State Bulldogs finish a three-game holiday homestand tonight at 7 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. This marks the second of four games over a seven-day span as Dogs host the North Dakota State Bison, a 2009 NCAA Tournament team.
The Bulldogs then pack their suitcases for road contests at Montana (Dec. 21) and Oregon State (Dec. 23). After a quick break, Fresno State concludes 2009 with their final non-conference game before starting Western Athletic Conference play when old WAC foe Colorado State visits on Dec. 28, 2009.
GAME #11: Fresno State vs. North Dakota State
Fresno State (5-5) vs North Dakota State (4-5)
Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009 (Tip Off: 7:00 p.m. PT)
Site: Save Mart Center (15,596); Fresno, Calif.
Radio: KMJ 580 AM (Randy Rosenbloom/Steve Gonzalez)
TV: None
Online: Bulldog All-Access on www.GoBulldogs.com
About the Bison
The North Dakota State University Bison, the defending Summit League champions and 2009 NCAA Tournament participant, is 4-5 on the season with victories over Minot State (110-82), UC Davis (63-62), Western Illinois (63-62) and Dickinson State (90-83). NDSU lost at home to WAC member Idaho (81-69). Head Coach Saul Phillips is in his third season at North Dakota State and sports a 46-25 overall record. Eric Carlson is NDSU's leading scorer (16.8 ppg) and rebounder (8.0 rpg) through the first nine games.
Against the Bison
After Fresno State and North Dakota State meet on Saturday, the Bison will return to Fresno in the 2010-11 season and the Bulldogs will conclude the three-year series in Fargo, N.D. during the 2011-12 campaign. Fresno State has won the only previous meeting between the schools when the Bulldogs beat the Bison 83-54 on Nov. 25, 1983 in Fresno, Calif.
LAST GAME: Bulldogs Dunkfest Downs UC Davis, 68-57
The Bulldogs took to the air for some monster slam dunks and long-range missile attacks from beyond the 3-point arc to cap their fall semester with a 68-57 victory over the UC Davis Aggies on Thursday night in the Save Mart Center. Sophomore Mychal Ladd made the most of his first start since the beginning of December with a career-high five 3-pointers for a season-best 18-point evening to lead four Bulldogs in double figures. Freshman center Greg Smith added 17 points, on 7-of-8 shooting and a perfect 3-for-3 clip from the charity stripe.
George Growing as Defender, Scorer and Team Leader
Sophomore Paul George is growing into his role as an astute defender, multi-dimensional scorer and leader-by-example. Entering the week, he was the Bulldogs' top scorer (17.3 ppg), rebounder (7.9 rpg), steals machine (2.8 spg), best free throw shooter (91.3%) and owns the most minutes on the roster (33.3 mpg). In his 43 game Bulldog career, George has started every game. The native of Palmdale, Calif. combines the ability to drive to the basket and shoot a deadly 3-point stroke. After posting the third-best season 3-point field goal percentage (63-141, 44.6%) as a freshman, George found his stroke again last week when he knocked down a career-best six 3-pointers in his second career 29-point game. He also recorded a career-best six steals when BYU came to town, a team that had held their previous eight opponents to an average of 5.4 team steals per game. The sophomore is also known for his exciting high-flying and thunderous dunks that change the momentum of games.
Freshman Smith One of Nation's Most Efficient Shooters
When 6-10 center Greg Smith decided to play for his hometown Bulldogs, head coach Steve Cleveland and his staff knew they were getting a talented front court player and an even more grounded and humble young man. In his first nine games as a Bulldog, Smith asserted his presence in the low post and ranked 14th in the nation in field goal percentage. The freshman has notched a team-best three double-doubles.
Golubovic Looks For Back-to-Back Academic All-District Honors
Junior forward Nedeljko Golubovic earned the Bulldogs' first Academic All-District honors in February 2009. As a key veteran on a stacked team, Golubovic returns as one of three starters. Golubovic is a strong athlete with a competitive fire and an intelligent mindset on the floor, who also excels in the classroom. On the hardwood, Golubovic averaged 7.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game last season and holds over a 3.8 cumulative grade point average through his first four semesters at Fresno State.
SI Lists George as West's "Most Entertaining Player"
Sports Illustrated named Fresno State sophomore Paul George as the most entertaining player in the West region and the eighth most entertaining player in the nation on their list of the "Top 16 Most Entertaining Players in College Basketball." George (Palmdale, Calif.) is the only Western Athletic Conference player on the list of 16 and ranked one spot ahead of the lone Pacific-10 player, Isaiah Thomas of Washington. George caught the attention of SI.com's Luke Winn with his dunking ability and aggressive mindset.
LAST WEEK: Bulldogs Rout Toreros, Ride Waves, Edged by BYU
In a full week for the Bulldog men's basketball team, Fresno State recorded a 2-1 mark with a dominating win over San Diego (69-37), a sharp-shooting comeback victory on the road at Pepperdine (80-72) and the restoration of an old rivalry as Steve Cleveland faced his former team of eight seasons (BYU) in a special reunion. In the win over USD, Fresno State held the Toreros a mere 18.6 percent shooting and 11 field goals, the best defensive effort in recent memory. Two days later, the Bulldogs met the Pepperdine Waves on the Malibu coastline as sophomore sensation Paul George produced his second 29-point performance of his career, highlighted by his career-high six 3-pointers. Point guard Steven Shepp added a career-best 17 points. The week ended in Fresno State's first contest against BYU in a decade. Freshman Greg Smith led the Bulldogs with 21 points in a close 72-67 defeat.
"We Are Your Team" - The `Dogs will be bringing the Aggies of UC Davis and the North Dakota State Bison to town on December 17 and 19. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Save Mart Center. Don't forget to bring a new stuffed animal to the game on the 19 for the Poverello House Teddy Bear Toss. Tickets to both games can be purchased through the Save Mart Center Box Office, by calling 559-485-TIXS or through Ticketmaster.com.
