Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs Head South to Face Bakersfield
12/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes: Fresno State at Bakersfield 
Bulldog Bones
• Fresno State has won its last five games when playing Bakersfield.
• Fresno State defeated Bakersfield 96-86 in overtime last season during the 29th Fresno State Classic, which was played at the Save Mart Center.
• While the Bulldogs and Roadrunners have played three times in Bakersfield, this will be the first ever meeting on campus at the Icardo Center.
• Fresno State is 1-2 when playing on the road at Bakersfield.
• Saturday's game is Fresno State sixth game away from home (out of 9).
• Fresno State was projected by the Mountain West media to finish seventh in the regular season conference standings.
• REFERENCE: "Fresno State" (never: FSU, CSUF, Fresno State University, or just simply "Fresno"); ABBREVIATION: Fresno St. or FS
Between the Baselines: Inside the Numbers
• Fresno State junior guard Marvelle Harris leads the team in scoring (14.9 ppg), rebounds (6.1 rpg), assists (3.2 apg) and steals (1.8 spg).
• Fresno State sophomore Karachi Edo posted his first career double-double in the Bulldogs' 72-63 win over UC Irvine.
• Harris scored at least 10 points in 32 games in the last two seasons and posted 20 or more points in nine games.
• Fresno State redshirt junior guard Julien Lewis was tabbed as the No. 6 scoring impact transfer on Sports Illustrated's Top 100 forecast.
• Fresno State owns a +16 steal ratio (56-40) and +15 rebound ratio (281-266), including a 93-78 advantage on the offensive glass.
'Dogs Head South to Face Bakersfield
Fresno State (2-6) will vie an elusive road win when the Bulldogs start a two-game road trip at Bakersfield on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast live on the radio on 790 AM ESPN The Deuce.
About the Bakersfield Roadrunners
The Bakersfield Roadrunners are 1-6 on the season, including a 70-52 win over Delaware and a 51-27 loss on the road at then-No. 16 San Diego State. The Roadrunners have several new faces to their 2014-15 roster after the loss of over 80 percent of their point production from last season. Bakersfield return four players from last season including redshirt senior guard Javonte Maynor (7.0 ppg) and All- WAC defense team selection Aly Ahmed (13.30 ppg). Fresno State leads the all- time series 7-4 and has won the last five games against the Roadrunners in a row.
Harris Leading Bulldogs' Backcourt
Fresno State guard Marvelle Harris was honored last season as an honorable mention all-Mountain West selection. As he worked toward preparing for this season, the proven scorer was tasked with learning the ropes as a point guard to help add experienced depth at that position and expand his tools in handling the basketball and facilitating the offense. With 26 assists, 49 rebounds and 14 steals, he already has seven more assists, two more rebounds and nine more steals than he had during the first eight games last season, when he also led the team in scoring like he is this year. As the MW leader in minutes played last year, he is on track for even more work this season in having already logged 287 minutes (35.9 mpg) compared to 281 minutes (35.1 mpg) in the same stretch to start the year.
Versatile Watson Focused on Production
Bulldogs guard/forward Paul Watson, who was named the 2013-14 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, gives Fresno State a versatile option on the wing and the post. Watson played almost exclusively at forward as a freshman and moved out to the wing for the Bulldogs' season-opening loss at Pepperdine before Coach Terry slipped him back down to the "4" one game later. Watson is a team-best 15-for-41 from beyond the 3-point arc this season forcing defenders to guard him on the perimeter in addition to his ability to attack the basket. Watson scored a career-high 28 points in leading Fresno State to a 93-55 victory over Bristol in the home opener.
Lewis Infuses Scoring Spark, Defensive Edge
Junior shooting guard Julien Lewis, who played his first two collegiate seasons for the University of Texas, has quickly provided the immediate impact that Coach Terry envisioned for the 6-4 guard from Galveston, Texas. Lewis is second on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) and has scored in double figures in six of his eight games this season for Fresno State. His defensive grit has provided a high-pressure extra edge to the Bulldogs' mentality.
'Dogs End Skid, Beat Irvine 72-63
Fresno State rode big nights from Paul Watson, Marvelle Harris and Karachi Edo to snap a five-game losing streak with a 72-63 win over UC Irvine (3-3) on Wednesday. Watson poured in 23 points on 9-of-21 shooting. He was joined in double figures by Edo (a career-high 21 points) and Harris (14). At halftime, the trio had combined for 34 of Fresno State's 36 points.
