Bulldogs return to action in Logan

Game 21: Fresno State (13-7, 5-3 MW) at Utah State (8-11, 2-6 MW)
January 28, 2017 -- 6 p.m. PT -- Logan, Utah (Dee Glen Smith Spectrum)
TV/Online: Mountain West Network (Al Lewis/Rod Tueller)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN Radio (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones)
Series History: Utah State leads 32-23 (overall) and 22-7 (games played in Logan)
Record vs. Utah State in Terry Era: 5-2 (4-1 in MW play • 2-2 at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 86, Utah State 85 (March 5, 2016 • Logan, Utah)
Next Up: vs. Air Force (2/1/17 • 7 p.m. PT); vs. San Diego State (2/4/17 • 4 p.m. PT)

Opening Tip
• Fresno State has won a nation-best 11 straight games against conference opponents decided by a single possession (three points or fewer), which includes 5 home wins, 5 road wins and 1 neutral site win).
• Fresno State junior guard Jahmel Taylor is seventh in the nation in 3-point shooting (55-for-114, 48.3 percent).
• Fresno State redshirt junior guard Jaron Hopkins is tied for 19th in the nation in steals per game (2.2 spg).
• Fresno State is tied for 17th in the nation in steals per game (8.5 spg).
• Fresno State is tied for 35th in the nation in field goal percentage (48.0%).
• Fresno State is tied for 34th in the nation in 3-point field goal defense (31.1%).

Bulldog Bones
• By winning the 2016 Mountain West Basketball Championship, Fresno State earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001.
• Fresno State has improved its conference win total in each of the last four seasons since head coach Rodney Terry arrived in 2011, rising from 3-11 (11-12) to 5-11 (12-13) to 9-9 (13-14) to 10-8 (14-15) to 13-5 (15-16).
• Fresno State is one of eight teams in the nation to have improved its conference win total in each of the last four seasons.
• This season, Fresno State was picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West by the league's media in a preseason poll in mid-October.
• Before the 2015-16 season, Fresno State was picked to finish fifth in a preseason poll. The Bulldogs went on to win the 2016 MW Championship and earn the MW's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

On the road
• Fresno State has won eight of its last 14 true road games.
• Fresno State is 2-0 in overtime this season (both road wins).
• 3-point shooting (FS): 36.8 percent (road) versus 34.6 percent (home)
• Nine of Fresno State's 10 road games this season have been decided by nine points or fewer (all four wins by five points or fewer).

Bulldogs return to action in Logan
After its first bye during Mountain West play, Fresno State (13-7, 5-3 MW) travels to play at Utah State (8-11, 2-6 MW) on Saturday at 6 p.m. PT inside Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network and 940 AM ESPN Radio. Fresno State is currently tied for third in the conference standings - just one game back of first place. The Bulldogs will play twice at home next week with games against Air Force on Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT and San Diego State on Feb. 4 at 4 p.m. PT.

About the Utah State Aggies
The Utah State Aggies are 8-11 this season, which includes a 2-6 record in conference play. The Aggies are led by Jalen Moore (16.9 ppg/4.9 rpg). While Utah State leads the all-time series 32-23 with a 23-6 advantage when playing inside the Spectrum, two of Fresno State's six wins in Logan have come during the past three seasons. Fresno State is 5-2 against Utah State since head coach Rodney Terry's arrival in 2011. Since joining the MW in 2012, Fresno State has played Utah State just five times, which is the fewest of any other MW opponent, and this is the second time in four seasons that Fresno State and Utah State will play just once during the regular season due to the 18-game unbalanced conference schedule.

Taylor is one of nation's best 3-point shooters
Fresno State junior guard Jahmel Taylor is seventh in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (55-for-114, 48.3 percent). He has made at least one 3-pointer in 18 of 20 games this season and at least one 3-pointer in 27 of his last 31 games played. Taylor has 14 games this season with multiple 3-pointers and made 11 consecutive 3-pointers in a three-game span in December, which was four shy of tying the national record of 15. Taylor is also tied for 54th in the nation in 3-point field goals made per game (2.8).

• REFERENCE: "Fresno State" (never: FSU, CSUF, Fresno State University, or just simply "Fresno"); ABBREVIATION: Fresno St. or FS

Bulldogs return to action in Logan

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Players Mentioned

Jaron Hopkins

Jahmel Taylor

Fresno State Athletics