Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs Start MW Slate at UNLV on ESPNU
12/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes: Fresno State at UNLV 
Game 14: Fresno State (9-4) at UNLV (9-4)
Dec. 30, 2015 -- 8 p.m. PT -- Las Vegas, Nev. (Thomas & Mack Center)
TV/Online: ESPNU & WatchESPN.com (Steve Quis/Julianne Viani)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN Radio (Paul Loeffler/Randy Rosenbloom)
Series History: UNLV leads 30-8 (overall) and 17-1 (games played in Las Vegas)
Last Meeting: UNLV 73, Fresno State 61 (2/10/15 -- Las Vegas, Nev.)
Next Up: vs. New Mexico (Jan. 2); vs. Nevada (Jan. 6); at Boise State (Jan. 9)
Bulldog Bones
• Fresno State is seeking its best start (10-4) since a 12-2 start in 2006.
• Fresno State is seeking its first win in a conference opener since 2011.
• Fresno State is 0-3 all-time in Mountain West openers.
• Fresno State was picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West by the league's media in a preseason poll in mid-October.
• Fresno State has improved its conference win total in each of the last three seasons since head coach Rodney Terry arrived in 2011.
• REFERENCE: "Fresno State" (never: FSU, CSUF, Fresno State University, or just simply "Fresno"); ABBREVIATION: Fresno St. or FS
Harris Named MW Preseason Player of the Year
• Fresno State senior guard Marvelle Harris was named the 2015-16 Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year by the conference media.
• Harris is the third Bulldog to earn preseason conference player of the year honors, joining former NBA players Courtney Alexander and Melvin Ely.
• Harris is one of 20 players in the nation to be named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List.
• Harris was named first-team All-MW and to the league's All-Defensive Team by the league's head coaches for the 2014-15 season.
• Harris also earned first-team All-MW honors from a MW media panel.
Harris Climbing Up the Record Books
• Harris is ranked No. 5 on Fresno State's all-time scoring list (1,545 points) - 39 points away from tying Carl Ray Harris (1,584 points) for fourth.
• Harris is ranked No. 6 all-time on Fresno State's career steals list (154) - 15 steals away from tying Mike Mitchell (1986-88) for fifth (167).
• Harris is ranked No. 9 all-time on Fresno State's career field goal attempts list (1,199) - 20 away from tying Tod Bernard for eighth (1,219).
• Harris is ranked No. 10 all-time in 3-point field goal attempts (427).
• Harris is eight assists from tying Terrance Roberson (1996-2000, 308 assists) for 10th all-time in program history. Harris has 300 career assists.
'Dogs Start Mountain West Slate at UNLV
Fresno State will travel to play at UNLV on Wednesday at 8 p.m. PT at the Thomas & Mack Center on ESPNU. The game will also be broadcast live on 940 AM ESPN Radio. Fresno State's rotation is headlined by a veteran backcourt in three senior guards, including 2015-16 Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year Marvelle Harris, and a formidable frontcourt with juniors Karachi Edo and Torren Jones and sophomore Terrell Carter II.
About the UNLV Runnin' Rebels
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels (Mountain West) are 9-4 this season with two Top 25 wins - Indiana (72-69) and Oregon (80-69) - and losses to UCLA (77-75), Arizona State (66-56) and Arizona (82-70). UNLV is led by Patrick McCaw (14.4 ppg) and Stephen Zimmerman, Jr. (9.5 ppg/7.5 rpg). UNLV leads the all-time series 30-8, including a 17-1 advantage in Las Vegas. The Bulldogs only win over UNLV in Las Vegas was a 61-52 victory on March 9, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Terry's second season.
Between the Baselines: Statistical Notes
• Fresno State has a +6.9 rebounding margin/game (533-443) this season.
• Fresno State has a +3.2 turnover margin/game (157-198) this season.
• Fresno State owns a +2.7 steal margin/game (96-61) this season.
• Fresno State owns a +2.2 block margin/game (62-34) this season.
• Fresno State has limited 11 of its 13 opponents to under 80 points.
• Fresno State has not committed more turnovers than its opponents in 11 of its 13 games this season, 26 of its last 32 games, and 111 of the 147 games (75.5 percent) since head coach Rodney Terry's arrival in 2011.
Between the Baselines: Harris Highlights
• Harris scored a season-high 26 points in the Bulldogs' 82-65 win at Rice.
• Harris leads the MW in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4 A-T/O, 60-25), including a 13-3 A/TO ratio in the Bulldogs' last three games.
• Harris is averaging 18.4 points and 4.6 assists per game this season.
Three 'Dogs Averaging Double-Digits This Year
Senior Marvelle Harris leads three Bulldogs, who are averaging at least 10 points per game this season: Harris (18.4 ppg/4.6 apg/4.5 rpg/1.8 spg), Torren Jones (11.3 ppg/8.2 rpg) and Jahmel Taylor (11.0 ppg). Paul Watson (9.7 ppg) and Cezar Guerrero (9.6 ppg) are close to joining the club.
Edo Making Big Strides in his Development
Karachi Edo has been a fan favorite since his arrival at Fresno State in 2013 for his high-flying athleticism and passionate play. On the floor, Edo has made significant progress during his Fresno State career - his scoring average to 8.9 ppg this year as a junior after doubling his scoring average to 8.0 ppg as a sophomore from 4.0 ppg as a freshman. He is also averaging 7.6 rpg up from 4.3 rpg as a sophomore from 3.3 rpg as a freshman. Edo ranks third in the MW in blocked shots (1.7 bpg). He also has a team-best seven career double-doubles, with four coming this season.
Versatile Watson Focused on Production
Bulldogs' junior guard/forward Paul Watson - the 2013-14 Mountain West Freshman of the Year - gives Fresno State a versatile option on the wing and the post. Watson has played both slots this year, primarily on the wing. This season, he has stretched opposing defenses behind 18-for-44 (40.9%) from beyond the 3-point arc and has the second-most blocks on the team.
Jones Providing Power in the Paint
Fresno State junior forward Torren Jones, who played his freshman season in the SEC at Missouri and his sophomore season at Midland Junior College, delivered a double-double in each of his first two games as a Bulldog. The last Bulldog to accomplish that feat was Dominic McGuire in 2006. Jones had 13 points and 14 rebounds to help the 'Dogs to a come-from-behind 69-66 season-opening victory over Pepperdine and backed it up with a career-high 19 points and added 12 rebounds in the Bulldogs' 80-72 win over Lamar. Jones was the first Bulldog to post a double-double in his debut since then-freshman Greg Smith had 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 65-59 season-opening victory over San Francisco State on Nov. 13, 2009. The 14 rebounds were also the most by a Bulldog since Alex Davis had 15 in a 71-67 overtime win over Northern Arizona on Dec. 1, 2013.
Hard Work Gives Carter Opportunity
Fresno State sophomore center Terrell Carter II (6-10, 285 pounds) has put in a lot of work to get his body in shape and ready to compete at the Division I level. While he only saw limited playing time in the Bulldogs' first 10 games this season, Carter came through when Fresno State needed him to step up to match up with Bakersfield's inside presence on Dec. 16, 2015. Carter was a key factor in the in the Bulldogs' 76-68 win with a career-best 13 points while making all five of his field goal attempts in 22 minutes off the bench. As a freshman, Carter played in 18 games with three starts while averaging 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
'Dogs Among Best in the Mountain West
• Cezar Guerrero leads the MW in 3-point shooting (23-49, 46.9 percent).
• Torren Jones is fourth in the MW in rebounding (8.2 rpg).
• Jones is also fourth in field goal percentage (63-119, 52.9 percent).
• Fresno State's Karachi Edo is fifth in the MW in blocks (1.7 bpg).
• Fresno State's Marvelle Harris ranks in the Top 4 in the MW in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4), scoring (18.4 ppg), points scored (239), steals (23, 1.8 spg) and assists (60, 4.6 apg).
Spotlight Stats
• Fresno State has won 20 of its last 21 games when leading at halftime.
• Fresno State has scored 80 or more points in five games this season. The Bulldogs scored 80 or more points only three times during the entire 2014-15 season, including two over non D-1 opponents.
• Fresno State is 20-2 when scoring 80 or more points in Terry's first five seasons and 15-1 in those games since the start of the 2013-14 season.
• Fresno State is 60-27 when limiting an opponent to under 70 points in Terry's first five seasons and 21-5 since the start of the 2014-15 season.
• Fresno State is 6-0 when holding an opponent under 70 points this year.
Fresno State Continues MW Ascent
Fresno State continued its ascension in conference play with 10 league wins and posted wins over four of the 68 teams that made it to the 2015 NCAA Tournament (Boise State, San Diego State, UC Irvine and Wyoming) during the 2014-15 season. Each of those four teams won either their regular season or conference tournament championship. The Bulldogs also earned a first-round bye as the No. 6 seed in the 2015 MW Tournament.
