’Dogs host Falcons in Salute to Services

Game 15: Air Force (6-7, 0-1 MW) at Fresno State (10-4, 0-1 MW)
Dec. 30, 2017 -- 4 p.m. PT
Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
TV/Online: Mountain West Network (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones) & 1600 AM ESPN Deportes (Jesse Beltran/Octavio Duarte)
Series History: Fresno State leads 17-6 (overall), 10-2 (home games) & 8-2 (Terry Era)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 73, Air Force 64 (2/1/17 • Fresno, Calif. • Save Mart Center)
Looking Ahead: at Utah State (Jan. 3); at Colorado State (Jan. 6); vs. Boise State (Jan. 9)

Opening Tip

Fresno State is one of five MW teams with at least 10 wins this season.
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 (23-5) and last two seasons (16-3).
Fresno State is 47-9 overall at home since the start of the 2014-15 season.
Fresno State has won 17 of its last 23 games in its next game after a loss.
Fresno State will close a 10-game span of playing in the Golden State on Saturday. The Bulldogs are 7-2 through the first nine games of the stretch.
Fresno State is coming off a 15-point loss to Nevada on Wednesday. The Bulldogs also lost their MW home opener by 15 on Jan. 2, 2016 when the Lobos beat the 'Dogs 77-62, with Fresno State later winning the 2016 MW Championship that season and earning a NCAA Tournament appearance.

Bulldog Bones

Fresno State is one of two MW teams to rank the top four in the MW in scoring offense (4th, 79.6 ppg) and scoring defense (3rd, 66.8 ppg).
Fresno State leads the MW in rebounding defense (29.1/gm) and steals (112, 8.0 spg).
Fresno State also ranks second in the MW in field goal shooting percentage (50.5 percent) and offensive rebounding percentage (34.2 percent).
Fresno State has outrebounded its opponent in 12 of 14 games this season.
Fresno State sophomore forward Bryson Williams leads the MW with a 66.1 field goal percentage (80-121 FG) and has made 13 of his last 14 field goal attempts (four straight) with team-high three double-doubles.

'Dogs host Falcons on Saturday afternoon
Fresno State (10-4, 0-1 Mountain West) will host the Air Force Falcons (6-7, 0-1 MW) on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT inside the Save Mart Center. The game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network, 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes. Free admission is available for all veterans and active duty military. Fans can also redeem their ticket from the Dec. 16 home game vs. Oregon for a free ticket to Saturday's game against Air Force in person at the Save Mart Center Box Office. Additional tickets are on sale starting at $10 (Ticketmaster.com & SMC Box Office).

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.

About the Air Force Falcons
The Air Force Falcons are 6-7 on the season (0-1 in MW play), after opening conference play by losing 87-58 at New Mexico on Wednesday. The Falcons are led offensively by Ryan Manning and Lavelle Scottie, who each average 10.5 points per game. Fresno State leads the all-time series with Air Force 17-6, including wins in eight of the last nine meetings. The Bulldogs are 5-0 against the Falcons at the Save Mart Center, and the 'Dogs have won eight straight home games when hosting Air Force.

Deshon Taylor leading MW guards in scoring

Fresno State junior guard Deshon Taylor leads all MW guards in scoring (18.4 ppg) and ranks No. 3 overall in the MW in points per game.
Deshon Taylor is third in the nation in free throws made (95).

• Deshon Taylor has made:
   ~ four straight free throws
   ~ 40 of his last 45 free throw attempts (88.9 percent, spanning six games)
   ~ at least 10 free throws in four games this season (eight in career)
   ~ 95 of his 111 free throws this season (85.6 percent, 14 games)

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.

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

’Dogs host Falcons in Salute to Services

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Players Mentioned

Deshon Taylor

Bryson Williams

Fresno State Athletics

’Dogs host Falcons in Salute to Services

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Deshon Taylor

Bryson Williams

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