Bulldogs head to Boise for Tuesday Night Game

Game 29: Fresno State (17-11, 9-7 MW) at Boise State (18-9, 11-5)
February 28, 2017 -- 7 p.m. PT -- Boise, Idaho (Taco Bell Arena)
TV: CBS Sports Network (John Sadak/Jordan Cornette)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN Radio (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones)
Series History: Boise State leads 21-18 (overall) & 13-5 (games played in Boise)
Record vs. Boise State in Terry Era: 4-6 (overall) • 0-5 (games played in Boise)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 89, Boise State 80 (Jan. 14, 2017 • Fresno, Calif.)
Last Meeting in Boise: Boise State 81, Fresno State 70 (Jan. 9, 2016 • Boise, Idaho)
Next Up: vs. UNLV (3/4/17 • 4 p.m. PT); at 2017 MW Championships (March 8-11 • Las Vegas)

Opening Tip
• Fresno State is seeking its first road win at Boise State since Jan. 15, 2004.
• Fresno State, the defending MW tournament champion, can clinch a first round bye for the 2017 MW Championships with a win over Boise State.
• Fresno State has won 14 consecutive games when holding an opponent to under 60 points (6-0 this season, including 3-0 vs. MW opponents).
(Last Loss: San Diego State 58, Fresno State 47 • 1/27/15 • Viejas Arena)
• Fresno State junior guard Jahmel Taylor is sixth in the nation in 3-point shooting (73-for-158, 46.2 percent).
• Fresno State redshirt junior guard Jaron Hopkins is 21st in the nation in steals per game (2.1 spg, 58 steals).
• Fresno State ranks 12th in the nation in steals per game (8.5 spg).
• Fresno State redshirt sophomore guard Deshon Taylor ranks 50th in the nation (1st in the MW) in free throw shooting (86.6 percent, 116-134).
• Fresno State redshirt sophomore guard Deshon Taylor made 62 of his last 65 free throw attempts (95.4 percent, last seven games).
• Fresno State is one win away from its 25th season with at least 18 wins.

Bulldog Bones
• Fresno State is in fourth place in the MW race - two games back of third.
• Fresno State, the defending MW tournament champion, can clinch a first round bye for the 2017 MW Championships this week with a win over Boise State or UNLV.
• Fresno State can secure the No. 3 seed for the MW Championships with a win at Boise State on Tuesday, a win over UNLV on Saturday and an Air Force win over BSU on Saturday.
• 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.

Bulldogs head to Boise for Tuesday night game
Fresno State (17-11, 9-7 Mountain West) travels to play the Boise State Broncos (18-9, 11-5 MW) on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. PT inside Taco Bell Arena. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and 940 AM ESPN Radio. The Bulldogs and Broncos are battling for seeding in the 2017 MW Championships. Fresno State will host UNLV on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT 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.

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

About the Boise State Broncos
The Boise State Broncos are 18-9 this season, which includes an 11-5 record in during Mountain West play. The Broncos are in sole possession of third place in the MW standings - a game ahead of Fresno State and New Mexico. Boise State leads the all-time series with Fresno State 21-18, which includes a 13-5 advantage in games played in Boise. Fresno State has won three of the last five meetings, including an 89-80 victory earlier this season on Jan. 14 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno. The Bulldogs last defeated the Broncos in Boise back on Jan. 15, 2004 during then-head coach Ray Lopes' second season. Fresno State has lost its last 12 road games at Boise State.

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 20.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game (11 games).
• As a starter, Deshon Taylor has also shot 89.4 percent at the free throw line (93-for-104 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 (53-for-116 FGA) and 44.4 percent (24-for-54 3FGA) in the last 11 games (as a starter) for increases of 8.0 percent (FGA) and 15.5 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.

On the road
• Fresno State has won nine of its last 18 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).
• 11 of Fresno State's 14 road games this season have been decided by nine points or fewer (four of five road wins by five points or fewer).

Notable Tidbits about 80
• Fresno State has scored 80 or more points eight times this season.
• Fresno State has won 23 of its last 25 games when scoring 80 or more points.
• Fresno State scored 80 or more points in 12 games last season and the 'Dogs scored 80 or more points three times during the 2014-15 season.
• Fresno State is 32-4 when scoring 80 or more points since Terry's arrival in 2011 and 26-3 in those games since the start of the 2013-14 season.

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.

Fresno State, Terry sign contract extension
Rodney Terry, who is in his sixth season as Fresno State's head men's basketball coach, has signed a new 5-year contract through 2021. Terry's new 5-year contract with Fresno State, which is retroactive to July 1, 2016, runs through April 30, 2021. Under Terry's leadership, Fresno State won the 2016 Mountain West Championship and returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2016 for the first time since 2001.

Bulldogs head to Boise for Tuesday Night Game

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Players Mentioned

Jaron Hopkins

Deshon Taylor

Jahmel Taylor

Fresno State Athletics