'Dogs draw Wolf Pack at home to start MW play

Game 14: Nevada (11-3) at Fresno State (10-3)
Dec. 27, 2017 -- 7 p.m. PT
Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
TV/Online: ESPN3/WatchESPN (Trey Bender/Blaine Fowler)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones) & 1600 AM ESPN Deportes (Jesse Beltran/Octavio Duarte)
Series History: Nevada leads 53-44 (overall) • Fresno State leads 27-20 (home games)
Last Meeting: Nevada 83, Fresno State 72 (3/10/17 • MW Tournament Semifinal • Las Vegas)
Looking Ahead: vs. Air Force (Dec. 30); at Utah State (Jan. 3); at Colorado State (Jan. 6)

Opening Tip

Fresno State and Nevada are two of the four MW teams entering conference play with at least 10 wins.
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 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 is 47-8 overall at home since the start of the 2014-15 season.
This week, Fresno State will close a 10-game span of playing in the Golden State. The Bulldogs are 7-1 through the first eight games of the stretch.
Fresno State has won 13 straight home games played on a Wednesday. (Last Loss: Colorado State 81, Fresno State 73 • 2/18/15)
With 10 wins entering MW play, this is the fourth time since 1980 that Fresno State has won 10 nonconference games before opening league play.
Fresno State is 3-2 in Mountain West home openers (1-4 in MW openers).

'Dogs draw Wolf Pack at home for MW opener
Fresno State (10-3) will host the Nevada Wolf Pack (11-3) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT inside the Save Mart Center. The game will be broadcast on the ESPN3/WatchESPN, 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes. Tickets are available starting at $15 at the Save Mart Center Box Office (northwest entrance) and through www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 559-278-DOGS (and then pressing "1") or visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office at the northeasst entrace at the Save Mart Center for group ticket packages and mini-plan options.

Fresno State is stepping up on both ends of the floor

Fresno State is the only team to rank among the top four in the MW in scoring offense (3rd, 80.8 ppg) and scoring defense (3rd, 65.8 ppg).
Fresno State leads the MW in rebounding defense (28.4/gm) and steals (112, 8.6 spg).
Fresno State also ranks second in the MW in field goal shooting percentage (50.5 percent) and scoring margin (+15.0 ppg).
Fresno State has scored at least 75 points in 10 of 13 games this season.
Fresno State has outrebounded its opponent in 11 of 13 games this season.
Fresno State sophomore forward Bryson Williams leads the MW with a 65.2 field goal percentage (75-115 FG) and has made eight straight field goals.

Bulldogs win seven straight games
From Nov. 22-Dec. 13, 2017, Fresno State won seven straight games, which started when the Bulldogs defeated the Atlantic-10's George Mason 79-73 in Cancun. During the stretch, which was the second win streak of at least seven games with head coach Rodney Terry at the helm, Fresno State also scored two big road wins - at Long Beach State (106-70) and at Cal Poly (83-63) - and took care of business in its backyard with four home victories.

About the Nevada Wolf Pack
The Nevada Wolf Pack are 11-3 on the season and have been ranked as high as No. 22 (Associated Press) and No. 24 (Coaches) in early December. The Pack are led by Caleb Martin (18.7 ppg/5.4 rpg/2.6 apg), Jordan Caroline (17.0 ppg/9.1 rpg) and Cody Martin (13.7 ppg/6.3 rpg/4.1 apg).

The Nevada-Fresno State Series
While Nevada leads the all-time series 53-44, Fresno State owns a 27-20 advantage in games played in Fresno, but the Pack has a slight edge 7-6 in contests between the schools at the Save Mart Center. Overall, the Bulldogs have won six of the last eight meetings and own a 7-6 record (four overtime games) over the Wolf Pack since head coach Rodney Terry's arrival in 2011. Fresno State was the only MW program to sweep Nevada during the regular season last year, including a 77-76 home win on Dec. 31, 2016 and an 81-76 road victory on Jan. 21, 2017. Five of the last seven meetings have been decided by five points or fewer.

Protecting the Yard

Fresno State is 47-8 overall at home since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 24-4 record against nonconference opponents in that stretch.
Fresno State is 36-5 overall at home since the start of the 2015-16 season.
Fresno State was 13-2 overall 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.
Fresno State has won 10 of its last 11 home games.
Fresno State has won three consecutive Mountain West home games. (Last Loss: San Diego State 70, Fresno State 67 • 2/8/17)

Deshon Taylor leading MW guards in scoring

Fresno State junior guard Deshon Taylor leads all MW guards in scoring (18.6 ppg) and ranks No. 2 overall in the MW in points per game.
Deshon Taylor is tied for third in the nation in free throws made (86).

Deshon Taylor has made:
   ~ four straight free throws
   ~ 31 of his last 33 free throw attempts (93.9 percent, spanning five games)
   ~ at least 10 free throws in four games this season (eight in career)
   ~ 86 of his 99 free throws this season (86.9 percent, 13 games)

Williams making major impact as a sophomore
Fresno State sophomore forward Bryson Williams, a Fresno native, is a multi-dimensional inside force. He scored a career-high 30 points (14-for-17 FG) versus Cal State Monterey Bay on Dec. 18, 2017, and also had 22 points on 11-for-15 shooting and had nine rebounds in a competitive 83-75 road loss at Arkansas on Nov. 17, 2017. Williams can play both forward and center positions, and has been called on this season to be more of a playmaker, while still rebounding with confidence and defending the paint. 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 also had some big games as a freshman - highlighted by an 18-point effort to help power the 'Dogs to a 63-55 road win at San Diego State on Feb. 22, 2017. In his career, Williams has four career double-doubles, including three this season.

Big Time Bittner
Fresno State forward Sam Bittner has had a breakout junior season during non-conference play. Bittner has already made more field goals and 3-pointers this season than he did in his freshman and sophomore seasons combined. On defense, Bittner can guard all five positions on the floor, while offensively, he has become an efficient 3-point shooter. Bitter is also a hard-working student-athlete, who has a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Fresno State is also 18-4 in Bittner's 22 career starts (8-1 this season).

Bowles thriving as a Bulldog
Fresno State senior guard Ray Bowles, Jr., is a steady and veteran presence for the Bulldogs. Bowles, who is a graduate transfer and originally from Modesto, Calif., has started every game of his collegiate career (105 starts - 92 at Pacific/13 at Fresno State). He has proven he can score and defend at an elite level, as a leader-by-example on both ends of the floor.

Surpassing preseason expectations
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.

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.

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

'Dogs draw Wolf Pack at home to start MW play

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Bittner

Ray Bowles, Jr.

Deshon Taylor

Bryson Williams

Fresno State Athletics

'Dogs draw Wolf Pack at home to start MW play

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Bittner

Ray Bowles, Jr.

Deshon Taylor

Bryson Williams

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