Bulldogs visit Aztecs in MW Showdown

Wednesday, February 22

San Diego, CA

8 p.m. PT

Fresno State

San Diego State

Photo by: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Bulldogs visit Aztecs in MW Showdown

2/21/2017 1:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes: Fresno State at San Diego State (PDF)

Fresno State (16-11, 8-7 Mountain West) visits the San Diego State Aztecs (16-10, 8-6 MW) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. PT inside Viejas Arena. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and 940 AM ESPN Radio.

By: Stephen Trembley / Director of New Media

Game 28: Fresno State (16-11, 8-7 MW) at San Diego State (16-10, 8-6 MW)
February 22, 2017 -- 8 p.m. PT -- San Diego, Calif. (Viejas Arena)
TV/Online: CBS Sports Network (Rich Waltz/Dalen Cuff)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN Radio (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones)
Series History: San Diego State leads 61-51 (overall) and 39-17 (games played in San Diego)
Record vs. San Diego State in Terry Era: 3-7 (overall) • 0-4 (games played at Viejas Arena)
Last Meeting: San Diego State 70, Fresno State 67 (Feb. 4, 2017 • Fresno, Calif.)
Last Meeting in San Diego: San Diego State 73, Fresno State 67 [OT] • (Jan. 19, 2016)
Next Up: at Boise State (2/28/17 • 7 p.m. PT); vs. UNLV (3/4/17 • 4 p.m. PT)

Opening Tip
• Fresno State is seeking its first road win at SDSU since Feb. 25, 1999.
• Fresno State has won 13 consecutive games when holding an opponent to under 60 points (5-0 this season, including 2-0 vs. MW opponents).
(Last Loss: San Diego State 58, Fresno State 47 • 1/27/15 • Viejas Arena)
• Fresno State junior guard Jahmel Taylor is ninth in the nation in 3-point shooting (70-for-152, 46.1 percent).
• Fresno State redshirt junior guard Jaron Hopkins is 17th in the nation in steals per game (2.2 spg, 58 steals).
• Fresno State ranks 11th in the nation in steals per game (8.5 spg).
• Fresno State redshirt sophomore guard Deshon Taylor ranks 68th in the nation (1st in the MW) in free throw shooting (85.6 percent, 107-125).
• Fresno State redshirt sophomore guard Deshon Taylor made 53 of his last 56 free throw attempts (94.6 percent, last six games).

Deshon Taylor emerging as dual threat
• Since being inserted into the Bulldogs' starting line-up on Jan. 14, Fresno State redshirt sophomore guard Deshon Taylor has averaged 20.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game (10 games).
• As a starter, Deshon Taylor has also shot 88.4 percent at the free throw line (84-for-95 FT), compared to 76.7 percent (23-30 FT) as a reserve.
• In the first 17 games of the season (no starts), Deshon Taylor averaged 5.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 steals per game.
• Deshon Taylor made 37.7 percent (26-for-69 FGA) and 28.9 percent (13-for-45 3FGA) in his first 17 games (as a reserve), while shooting 46.8 percent (51-for-109 FGA) and 43.1 percent (18-for-46 3FGA) in the last nine games (as a starter) for increases of 9.1 percent (FGA) and 14.2 percent (3FGA) since joining the starting line-up on Jan. 14.
• Taylor scored a career-high 32 points, including a 17-for-18 clip at the free throw line, in a quadruple overtime game at Wyoming on Feb. 8. His 17 free throws set a school record for most free throws made in a game.

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

Bulldogs visit Aztecs in MW Showdown
Fresno State (16-11, 8-7 Mountain West) visits the San Diego State Aztecs (16-10, 8-6 MW) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. PT inside Viejas Arena. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and 940 AM ESPN Radio. The Bulldogs and Aztecs are currently in a battle for a first round bye in the 2017 MW Championships. Fresno State also plays at Boise State on Feb. 28 and hosts UNLV on March 4 before heading to Las Vegas for the conference tournament, which will be held March 8-11 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Fresno State is the defending MW tournament champion. Single-game tickets for Fresno State's final home game versus UNLV start at $15 at the Save Mart Center Box Office and www.ticketmaster.com. Group tickets (for groups of 10 or more) are available starting at $8 per ticket by calling 559-278-1688.

About the San Diego State Aztecs
The San Diego State Aztecs are 16-10 this season, which includes a 8-6 record during Mountain West play. The Aztecs are currently in fifth place in the MW standings - a half game ahead of Fresno State. SDSU leads the all-time series with Fresno State 61-51, including a a 39-17 advantage in games played in San Diego. The Bulldogs have won two of the last three meetings, including a 68-63 win in last season's MW championship game on March 12, 2016. Fresno State last defeated SDSU in San Diego back on Feb. 25, 1999 when the Bulldogs won 95-84.

Bulldog Bones
• Fresno State is in sixth place in the MW race - a half game back of fifth.
• By winning the 2016 Mountain West Basketball Championship, Fresno State earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001.
• 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 17 true road games.
• Fresno State is 2-1 in overtime this season (all three road games).
• Fresno State played its first-ever quadruple overtime game in program history (at Wyoming, Feb. 8, 2017).
• 10 of Fresno State's 13 road games this season have been decided by nine points or fewer (all four road wins by five points or fewer).

Hopkins surging as dynamic defender
Fresno State redshirt junior guard Jaron Hopkins has established himself as one of the premier defenders in the nation, especially in the West region, for disrupting passing lanes and scoring in transition. Hopkins has averaged a team-best 13.5 points, while also adding 5.4 rebounds, a team-high 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Hopkins, who played his first two seasons at Colorado, has played in all 27 games this season, with 21 starts.

Fresno State supporting Coaches vs. Cancer
Fresno State is squaring off against teams across the nation to fight cancer as part of the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge. Fans are encouraged to help the Bulldogs become 3-Point Challenge Champion by pledging today at 3pointchallenge.org. The team that receives the most new individual donors (not dollars) from Feb. 15 until March 5 will win $5,000. The 3-Point Challenge program supports American Cancer Society research, education and patient programs.