'Dogs to face undefeated Evansville to open Riviera Division of Cancun Challenge

Game 4: Evansville (4-0) vs. Fresno State (2-1)
Nov. 21, 2017 -- 5:30 p.m. PT
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya (Cancun Challenge)
TV: CBS Sports Network (Thad Anderson/Pete Gillen)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN Radio (Ghizal Hasan)
Series History: Evansville leads 4-1 (overall) and 1-0 (neutral site games)
Last Meeting: Evansville 85, Fresno State 77 (12/20/15 • Fresno, Calif. • Save Mart Center)
Looking Ahead: vs. LA Tech/George Mason in Cancun, Mexico (Nov. 22); vs. Montana State (Nov. 26)

Opening Tip
• Fresno State is one of eight schools in the West to have made back-to-back postseason appearances (NCAA or NIT).
• Fresno State has won 15 of its last 20 games in its next game after a loss.
• Fresno State is 8-1 in its last eight games played as part of exempt non-conference tournaments.
• Fresno State has won back-to-back exempt tournament championships by capturing the 2015 Roundball Showcase and 2016 Orange Express Championship. Overall, Fresno State is 12-4 in its last 16 non-conference or postseason tournament contests, including non-conference tournaments, MW Tournament, NCAA Tournament and NIT.

The 'Dogs are off and running
• Fresno State has scored at least 75 points in its first three games.
• This is the first time since the 1997-98 season that Fresno State has scored 75 or more points in each of its first three games. The Bulldogs' 1997-98 team finished the season 21-13 and reached the NIT Final Four.
• Fresno State is currently ranked seventh in the nation in three-point field field goal percentage (49.1 percent, 28-57) this season.
• Fresno State is currently ranked 18th in the nation in field goal percentage (53.5 percent, 99-185) this season.
• Fresno State has scored at least 80 points in two of its first three games.
• Fresno State is 29-3 when scoring 80 or more in the last four seasons.

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 straight seasons, including a 13-5 mark during the 2015-16 season.

'Dogs finish 4th in MW, reach MW semis & NIT
Fresno State 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 and 20-13 last season, made the MW semifinals for the second straight season. 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.

Bulldogs fly to Mexico for Cancun Challenge
Fresno State (2-1) will play Evansville (4-0) on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. PT at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in the Riviera Division of the 2017 Cancun Challenge on CBS Sports Network and 940 AM ESPN Radio.

About the Evansville Purple Aces
The Evansville Purple Aces (Missouri Valley) are 4-0 on the season after opening the season with home wins over Arkansas State (77-63), NC Central (68-55), SEMO (66-50) and Binghamton (66-61). The Purple Aces are led by Ryan Taylor (24.0 ppg/3.0 rpg/1.5 apg) and Dru Smith (11.8 ppg/3.8 rpg/7.8 apg). UE leads the all-time series 4-1, including two single-digit wins over the Bulldogs in the last three seasons when the Purple Aces edged the 'Dogs 58-52 in the Gulf Coast Showcase (11/24/14 - Estero, Fla.) and 85-77 in the MW/MVC Challenge (12/20/15 - Fresno, Calif.).

Bulldog Bones - Player Notes
• Fresno State sophomore forward Bryson Williams is tied for fifth (leads the MW) in the nation in field goal percentage (80.0 percent, 24-30).
• Fresno State junior guard Sam Bittner leads the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (100.0 percent, 6-6) - only player without a miss.
• Fresno State junior guard Deshon Taylor has made:
   ~ 11 consecutive free throws (spanning last two games)
   ~ 15 of his 16 free throws this season (93.8 percent, last three games)
   ~ 32 of his last 34 free throws (94.1 percent, last six games)
   ~ 53 of his last 56 free throw attempts (94.6 percent, last 10 games)
   ~ 107 of his last 113 free throw attempts (94.7 percent, last 15 games)
• Fresno State guard Deshon Taylor has made 22 of his last 43 (51.2 percent) 3-point attempts (last nine games). He has made multiple 3-pointers in 10 of his last 13 games and three or more 3-pointers in six of the last 12 games. Deshon Taylor has also scored at least 15 points in all 18 of his starts.

Williams making major impact as a sophomore
Fresno State sophomore forward Bryson Williams, a Fresno native, is one of two Bulldogs averaging over 17 points per game (along with Deshon Taylor). He scored a career-high 22 points on 11-for-15 shooting and had nine rebounds in a competitive 83-75 road loss at Arkansas on Nov. 17, 2017. Through the first three games this season, Williams is converting 80 percent (24-for-30) of his field goal attempts and has grabbed 7.0 rebounds per game. As a freshman, Williams primarily played closer to the basket as a center and averaged 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He had some big games as a freshman, especially an 18-point effort to help power the 'Dogs to a 63-55 road win at San Diego State on Feb. 22, 2017.

Former Bulldog designs Nike signature shoe
In Nike's 44-year history, fewer than one percent of its endorsed athletes have been given a signature shoe. Joining one of the most exclusive clubs in all of sport, former Fresno State men's basketball star Paul George (2008-10) debuted his first signature shoe, the PG1, on an international stage as the Indiana Pacers played the Denver Nuggets in London on Jan. 12. George became Nike Basketball's fourth active signature athlete, and the 21st basketball player to receive a signature shoe from Nike. Fresno State is wearing four versions of the PG1 shoe line this season. Blending George's smooth personality with performance attributes, the PG1 is tailored to PG13's two-way game. The lightweight, low cut PG1 is a true collaboration between George and designer Tony Hardman. The simple, highly functional silhouette features a distinctive forefoot strap anchored by Flywire cable loops providing a dynamic, contained feel, while a forefoot Zoom Air unit delivers low-profile, responsive cushioning.

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

'Dogs to face undefeated Evansville to open Riviera Division of Cancun Challenge

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Players Mentioned

Sam Bittner

Deshon Taylor

Bryson Williams

Fresno State Athletics