Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs Host No. 25 Aztecs in MW Home Opener
1/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
GAME 15: No. 25 San Diego State (11-3, 1-0) at Fresno State (5-9, 0-1)
Jan. 3, 2015 -- 7 p.m. PT -- Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center -- 15,596)
TV: ESPNU/WatchESPN.com (Doug Sherman/Craig Robinson)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN Radio & www.GoBulldogs.com (Paul Loeffler/Randy Rosenbloom)
1600 AM ESPN Deportes (Jesse Beltran)
Series History: San Diego State leads 58-45 (overall); Fresno State leads 27-20 (games in Fresno)
Last Meeting: San Diego State 82, Fresno State 67 (March 1, 2014 - Save Mart Center)
Game Notes: No. 25 San Diego State at Fresno State 
Bulldog Bones
• Fresno State has won eight of its last 11 regular season conference games.
• Fresno State is looking to snap an eight-game losing streak to SDSU.
• Fresno State last defeated San Diego State on Nov. 20, 2000 when the 'Dogs beat the Aztecs 70-62 in non-conference at Selland Arena in Fresno.
• Fresno State is 0-3 in conference home openers under Coach Terry.
• Fresno State was projected by the Mountain West media to finish seventh in the regular season conference standings.
• Fresno State finished tied for 5th in last year's MW conference race.
• REFERENCE: "Fresno State" (never: FSU, CSUF, Fresno State University, or just simply "Fresno"); ABBREVIATION: Fresno St. or FS
Between the Baselines: Individual Notes
• Fresno State junior guard Marvelle Harris leads MW in minutes played (500 minutes, 35.7 mpg); ranks No. 2 in steals (27, 1.9 spg), No. 3 in scoring (16.6 ppg) and assists (3.7 apg) & No. 16 in rebounding (5.1 rpg).
• Harris ranks No. 29 on Fresno State's all-time scoring list (1,012 pts) - 20 points away from tying Hector Hernandez for No. 28 (1,032 pts).
• Harris has scored 10 or more points the last 10 games & 11 of the last 12.
• Fresno State redshirt junior guard Julien Lewis was tabbed as the No. 6 scoring impact transfer on Sports Illustrated's Top 100 forecast.
• Lewis has posted at least 10 points in nine of the Bulldogs' 14 games.
Between the Baselines: Team Notes
• Fresno State leads the MW with four players in the conference's Top 20 scoring leaders; the Bulldogs rank second in steals and steals per game.
• Fresno State owns a +32 steal ratio (108-76).
• Fresno State has not committed more turnovers than its opponents in 10 of its 14 games this season; 86 of 116 games (74.1%) under Coach Terry.
• This is the second of nine games that Fresno State will appear on the ESPN Family of Networks - more than any other MW school this season.
Fresno State to Host No. 25 Aztecs in MW Home Opener
Fresno State (5-9, 0-1 Mountain West) will host defending MW regular season champion No. 25 San Diego State (11-3, 1-0 MW) on Saturday night at 7 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. The Bulldogs will wear their RED alternate uniforms at home for the first time this season as part of a special RED OUT promotion. All Fresno State fans are reminded to wear RED. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU/WatchESPN.com, 940 AM ESPN Radio, 1600 AM ESPN Deportes and online at www.GoBulldogs.com.
About the No. 25 San Diego State Aztecs
The No. 25-ranked San Diego State Aztecs are 11-3 on the season, including wins over then-No. 25 Utah (53-49), BYU (92-87 in OT), Pittsburgh (74-57) and Air Force (53-49) and losses to then-No. 3/4 Arizona (61-59), at Cincinnati (71-62 in OT) and Washington (49-36). SDSU is led by Winston Shepard (10.7 ppg) and JJ O'Brien (9.1 ppg/5.8 rpg). SDSU leads the all-time series 58-45, but Fresno State holds the advantage in home games 27-20. The Aztecs have won the last eight meetings between the schools.
'Dogs Rank No. 1 in MW with Four Top 20 Scorers
Fresno State's Marvelle Harris leads four Bulldogs averaging over 10 points per game - Harris (16.6 ppg), Julien Lewis (12.4 ppg), Paul Watson (11.6 ppg) and Karachi Edo (10.9 ppg). Fresno State is the only MW school with four players ranking in the Top 20 of the conference for scoring average.
Harris Leading MW, Bulldogs' Backcourt
Fresno State junior guard Marvelle Harris is third in the Mountain West in scoring (16.6 ppg) through the Bulldogs' first 14 games of the season. Harris is also one of the team's leading free throw (78.7%, 59-for-75), 3-point (31.5%, 23-for-73) and field goal shooters (43.6%, 75-for-172). Harris is building off last season, when he was an honorable mention All-MW honoree and helped Fresno State to the CBI Championship Series.
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 26-for-71 (36.6%) 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 (12.4 ppg) and has scored in double figures in nine of his 14 games this season for Fresno State. His defensive grit has provided a high-pressure extra edge to the Bulldogs' mentality. He scored a career-high 29 points in Fresno State's 71-68 loss at Pacific.
Davis A 2015 Allstate Good Works Team Nominee
Fresno State senior forward Alex Davis was named one of 158 nominees for the 2015 Allstate NABC Good Works Team. Davis is one of the team leaders during community service activities at Children's Hospital Central California, the local Boy's and Girl's Club and directly with youth throughout the San Joaquin Valley. This prestigious award recognizes "a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good."
Edo Making Big Strides in Sophomore Season
Karachi Edo (pronounced Car-RAA-chee EHH-dough) has been a fan favorite since his arrival at Fresno State in 2013 - largely for his high-flying athleticism and passionate play. On the floor, Edo has made significant progress - upping his scoring average to 10.9 ppg as a sophomore this season from 4.0 ppg as a freshman. He is also averaging over 1.5 more rebounds per game (up to 4.8 rpg this season from 3.3 rpg last season).
Harris Joins 1,000-Point Club, 'Dogs Fall at New Mexico
Fresno State junior guard Marvelle Harris surpassed the 1,000 career point milestone with a game-best 19 points in the Bulldogs' 76-64 loss at three-time defending Mountain West tournament champion New Mexico on New Year's Eve. The 'Dogs had four players in double figures in the game.
Bartko Named Bulldogs' Director of Athletics
Longtime Oregon administrator Jim Bartko became Fresno State's Director of Athletics, effective Jan. 1, 2015. Bartko, 49, is a Central Valley native who most recently served as executive senior associate athletic director for the Ducks. He has spent 26 years in athletic administration, nearly all of them at the University of Oregon. Born in Stockton, he holds a bachelor's degree in sports administration with a minor in business administration from Washington State University in Pullman.
