Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs Seeking Sweep of Utah State
2/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 27: Fresno State (12-14, 7-6 MW) at Utah State (15-10, 8-5 MW)
Feb. 21, 2015 -- 6 p.m. PT -- Logan, Utah (Dee Glen Smith Spectrum)
TV: ESPN3/WatchESPN.com (Ari Wolfe/Blaine Fowler)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN Radio & www.GoBulldogs.com (Paul Loeffler/Randy Rosenbloom)
Series History: Utah State leads 31-20 (overall) and 22-5 (games played in Logan)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 61, Utah State 52 (Jan. 7, 2015 - Fresno, Calif.)
Coming Up: at Wyoming (Feb. 25); vs. New Mexico (Feb. 28); vs. Air Force (March 4)
Game Notes: Fresno State at Utah State 
Special Note
• The Fresno State men's basketball team has added a "TARK" patch to its jerseys for the rest of the season in memory of the late Jerry Tarkanian.
Bulldog Bones
• Fresno State is vying for its first season sweep of Utah State since 2007, which would give the Bulldogs the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Aggies (if needed) for seeding in the 2015 MW Basketball Championships.
• Fresno State is one game back of Utah State in the MW standings.
• A regular season sweep of Utah State would be the Bulldogs' third sweep of a Mountain West opponent this season (Nevada and San Jose State).
• Fresno State has scored 70 or more points in six of its last seven wins over Utah State and a 6-2 record this season when scoring at least 70 points.
• REFERENCE: "Fresno State" (never: FSU, CSUF, Fresno State University, or just simply "Fresno"); ABBREVIATION: Fresno St. or FS
Honors Candidate: Marvelle Harris, Guard
• In conference play, Fresno State junior guard Marvelle Harris has led the MW in steals (33, 2.5 spg) and minutes (38.0 mpg), No. 3 in scoring (18.1 ppg), No. 6 in assists (3.2 apg) and No. 14 in rebounding (5.0 rpg).
• Harris ranks No. 18 on Fresno State's all-time scoring list (1,228 pts).
• Harris has scored 10 or more points the last 22 games & 24 of 26 this yr.
Between the Baselines: Team Notes
• Fresno State is tied for the MW lead with three players in the conference's Top 20 scoring leaders and ranks second in steals and steals per game.
• Fresno State owns a +72 steal ratio (215-143) & +16 block ratio (100-84).
• Fresno State has not committed more turnovers than its opponents in 13 of the last 14 games and 21 of its 26 games this season; 97 of 128 games (75.8%) since Coach Rodney Terry's arrival in 2011.
'Dogs Go for Sweep of Utah State
Fresno State (12-14, 7-6 Mountain West) travels to face Utah State (15-10, 8-5 MW) on Saturday night at 6 p.m. PT in Logan, Utah, at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3/WatchESPN.com, 940 AM ESPN Radio and www.GoBulldogs.com.
About the Utah State Aggies
The Utah State Aggies are 15-10 on the season and 8-5 against Mountain West opponents. USU is led by Jalen Moore (15.6 ppg/6.8 rpg) and David Collette (12.8 ppg/5.1 rpg) in longtime head coach Stew Morrill's final season in Logan before retiring. The Bulldogs, who beat the Aggies 61-52 on Jan. 7, 2015, are seeking their first season sweep of Utah State since 2007. Fresno State also earned a rare road win in Logan last season when the 'Dogs took down the Aggies 79-76 on Feb. 22, 2014.
Four Bulldogs Averaging Double-Digits
Fresno State's Marvelle Harris leads four Bulldogs averaging over 10 points per game - Harris (17.2 ppg), Cezar Guerrero (11.6 ppg), Paul Watson (11.2 ppg) and Julien Lewis (11.2 ppg) and. Fresno State is one of three MW schools (Colorado State and Utah State) with three players ranking in the Top 20 of the conference for season scoring average.
Harris Leading MW, Bulldogs' Backcourt
Fresno State junior guard Marvelle Harris is third in the Mountain West in scoring (17.2 ppg) through the Bulldogs' first 26 games of the season. Harris is one of the team's leading free throw (74.6%, 106-for-142), 3-point (32.9%, 46-for-140) and field goal shooters (44.4%, 148-for-333). Harris is building off last season, when he was an honorable mention All-MW honoree and helped Fresno State reach the CBI Championship Series. Harris scored a career-best 40 points while making 61 percent of his field goals attempts to lead the 'Dogs to a 69-66 road win at Nevada on Jan. 10, 2015.
Guerrero Earns Spot in Starting Rotation
After missing the first 17 games of the season working toward meeting the NCAA's continuing eligibility standards, Fresno State junior point guard Cezar Guerrero has worked his way in the Bulldogs' starting line-up. Guerrero brings a dynamic flash, great court vision and deep scoring threat to the Fresno State offense. Prior to the season, Guerrero made international headlines for hitting five half-court shots in a row during the Bulldogs' Red & White Hoops Night. He was featured on ESPN's Sportscenter and the original YouTube video has been viewed over 600,000 times.
Davis A 2015 Allstate Good Works Team Nominee
Fresno State senior forward Alex Davis is one of 158 nominees for the 2015 Allstate NABC Good Works Team. Davis is a team leader during community service activities at Children's Hospital Central California and the local Boy's and Girl's Club. This prestigious award recognizes "a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good."
Versatile Watson Focused on Production
Bulldogs 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 played almost exclusively at forward as a freshman and moved out to the wing this season. Coach Terry has used Watson in both slots this year and he has stretched opposing defenses behind 39-for-117 (33.3%) 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 a 93-55 victory over Bristol on Nov. 17.
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 third on the team in scoring (11.2 ppg) and has scored in double figures in 15 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.
ESPN Loves The 'Dogs
Fresno State will appear on the ESPN Family of Networks more than any other MW school this season (nine times). Through the end of the regular season, the Bulldogs will have appeared on ESPNU twice and ESPN3 seven times. CBS Sports Network also featured four Fresno State games this year.
Fresno State Mourns Jerry Tarkanian's Passing
Jerry Tarkanian - a Naismith Hall of Famer and Fresno State legend having both played and coached for the Bulldogs - passed away on Feb. 11 at a Las Vegas-area hospital with his family by his side. He was 84. He is survived by his wife, Lois, also a Fresno State graduate, four children and seven grandchildren. Tarkanian, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September 2013, played at Fresno State from 1954-55 and later coached for the Bulldogs from 1995-02. Fresno State will wear "TARK" patches on its jerseys for the rest of the season.
