’Dogs host CSUN in Cancun Challenge opener

Game 2: CSUN (1-0) at Fresno State (1-0)
Nov. 13, 2017 -- 7 p.m. PT
Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Online: Mountain West Network (Randy Rosenbloom)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN Radio (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones) & 1600 AM ESPN Deportes (Jesse Beltran/Octavio Duarte)
Series History: Fresno State leads 26-5 (overall) & 17-3 (games played in Fresno)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 80, CSUN 64 (Nov. 16, 2013 - Save Mart Center)
Next Up: at Arkansas (Nov. 17); vs. Evansville (Nov. 21 - in Cancun, Mexico)

Opening Tip
• Fresno State is one of eight schools in the West to have made back-to-back postseason appearances (NCAA or NIT).
• When Fresno State hosts CSUN on Monday, it will be the first of four games the Bulldogs will play as part of the 2017 Cancun Challenge. The next two will be played Nov. 21-22 in Cancun, Mexico, and the final game will be Nov. 26 at the Save Mart Center.
• Fresno State is 7-1 in its last eight games played as part of exempt non-conference tournaments.
• Fresno State has won back-to-back championships by capturing the 2015 Roundball Showcase and 2016 Orange Express Championship. Overall, Fresno State is 11-4 in its last 15 non-conference or postseason tournament contests, including the MW Tournament, NCAA Tournament and NIT.

Protecting the Yard
• Fresno State is 41-7 (.854) overall at home in the last three seasons, including a 19-3 record against nonconference opponents in that stretch.
• Fresno State is 30-4 (.882) at home since the start of the 2015-16 season.
• Fresno State has won 13 of its last 14 home games (four straight wins).
• Fresno State was 13-2 at home last season (8-1 vs. MW opponents).
• Fresno State has won more Mountain West home games than any other MW school in the last three seasons (23-4) and last two seasons (16-2).
• Fresno State has won 16 of its last 17 home games when playing a Mountain West opponent.

'Dogs host CSUN in Cancun Challenge Opener
Fresno State (1-0) will host CSUN (1-0) on Monday at 7 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center in the Bulldogs' 2017 Cancun Challenge opener. The game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network with a simulcast on the NCAA's March Madness Facebook page. The game will also be on 940 AM ESPN Radio (English) and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes (Spanish).

Fresno State has won three straight games (eight wins in the last nine meetings) in its all-time series with CSUN. This is the first meeting between the schools since Nov. 16, 2013 when the 'Dogs won 80-64. CSUN's last win in the series was Nov. 30, 1999 when the Matadors edged Fresno State 69-66 at Selland Arena.

Tickets for the game start at $10, with lower bowl center section tickets (Sections 109, 110, 122 and 123) also available on a single-game basis for $40 per seat. Admission is free for any fan who shows the Save Mart Center Box Office on gameday that they follow Fresno State Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat. Season ticket packages start at $149. Six-game mini plans start as low as $78 and group outings available starting at $8 per ticket by calling 559-278-DOGS (then pressing "1") or visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office at the northeast corner of the SMC.

Bulldog Bones - Player Notes
• Fresno State guard Deshon Taylor has made:
   ~ 5 consecutive free throws (last miss: 2nd half at TCU, 3/15/17)
   ~ 19 of his last 20 free throws (95.0 percent, last four games)
   ~ 40 of his last 42 free throw attempts (95.2 percent, last eight games)
   ~ 94 of his last 99 free throw attempts (94.9 percent, last 13 games)
• Fresno State guard Deshon Taylor has made 18 of his last 32 (56.3 percent) 3-point attempts (last seven games). He has made multiple 3-pointers in nine of his last 11 games and three or more 3-pointers in five of the last 10 games. Taylor has also scored at least 15 points in all 16 of his starts.
• Fresno State junior guard Sam Bittner is tied for first in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (100 percent, 4-4). He was one of seven players to make at least four 3-pointers without a miss on Opening Day.

Fresno State's consistency leads to success
Fresno State is one of three Mountain West teams to have finished .500 or better in league play in each of the past four seasons. Fresno State, Boise State and San Diego State have won at least nine conference games in each of the last four seasons. During the four-year stretch, Fresno State has averaged 10.8 conference wins per season, with at least 10 MW wins for three straght seasons, including a 13-5 mark during the 2015-16 season.

'Dogs finish 4th in MW, reach MW semis & NIT
Fresno State (20-13) is a perennial Mountain West contender - winning at least 20 games in three of the last four seasons. The Bulldogs, who finished fourth in league play, reached the MW semifinals for the second straight season and Fresno State is one of two MW programs to earn a first round bye for the MW Championships in each of the last three seasons. With a strong resume, which featured eight wins over teams in the Top 100 of the NCAA's Ratings Performance Index (RPI), the 'Dogs earned a No. 5 seed in the Iowa Quadrant of the 2017 National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Fresno State lost 66-59 at TCU in the First Round of the NIT.

’Dogs host CSUN in Cancun Challenge opener

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Players Mentioned

Sam Bittner

Sam Bittner

Deshon Taylor

Deshon Taylor

Fresno State Athletics