’Dogs trek to Viejas for showdown with Aztecs

Game 20: Fresno State (13-6, 3-3 MW) at San Diego State (11-5, 3-2 MW)
Jan. 17, 2018 -- 8 p.m. PT
San Diego, Calif. (Viejas Arena)
TV/Online: ESPNU/WatchESPN (Drew Fellios/Sean Harrington)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones)
Series History (All-Time): San Diego State leads 61-52 (overall) & 39-18 (games in San Diego)
Series History (Terry Era): San Diego State leads 7-4 (overall) & 4-1 (games in San Diego)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 63, San Diego State 55 (2/22/17 • San Diego, Calif. • Viejas Arena)
Looking Ahead: at Air Force (Jan. 20); vs. UNLV (Jan. 23); vs. Utah State (Jan. 27)

'Dogs trek to Viejas for showdown with Aztecs
Fresno State (13-6, 3-3 Mountain West) will visit the San Diego State Aztecs (11-5, 3-2 MW) on Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. PT inside Viejas Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and 940 AM ESPN Radio.

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 is seeking its third straight 4-3 start in Mountain West play.

'Dogs proving mettle in Mountain West

Fresno State is one of four MW teams with at least 13 wins this season.
Fresno State leads the MW in rebounding defense (30.4 avg/game).
Fresno State also ranks second in the MW in field goal shooting percentage (50.0 percent), 3-point field goal percentage (41.4 percent) and steals (138, 7.3 spg). Fresno State is also third in scoring defense (68.6 ppg).
Fresno State sophomore forward Bryson Williams leads the MW, which ranks 12th in the nation, with a 64.6 field goal percentage (104-161 FG). Williams has also made 37 of his last 54 field goal attempts (68.5 percent) with a team-high three double-doubles.
Fresno State has outrebounded its opponent in 15 of 19 games this season.

On the road

Fresno State has won 13 of its last 24 true road games (13-12 record).
Fresno State is 1-1 in overtime games this season (both road games).
Fresno State's last six overtime games have been on the road.
16 of Fresno State's last 21 road games have been decided by nine points or fewer (four of six road wins last season by five points or fewer).
Fresno State has lost 11 consecutive road games when trailing at the half. (Last Win: Fresno State 86, Utah State 85 • Logan, Utah • 3/5/16 • 31-42 H)

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 San Diego State Aztecs
The San Diego State Aztecs are 11-5 on the season (3-2 in MW play) and had a three-game winning streak snapped when SDSU lost 83-80 at Boise State on Saturday. Fresno State has won three of the last four meetings between the programs and the last six contests in the series have been decided by nine points or fewer. Last season, the Bulldogs picked up their first win at Viejas Arena since 1999 as Fresno State beat SDSU 63-55 on Feb. 22, 2017 - a road win which helped the 'Dogs make its second straight postseason appearance (2016 - NCAA / 2017 - NIT). A season ago, Fresno State had eight NCAA RPI Top 100 wins (no Top 100 wins this season).

Deshon Taylor in the mix for MW scoring title

Fresno State junior guard Deshon Taylor is second in the MW in points scored (359) and steals (31, 1.6 spg), third in points per game (18.9 ppg) and fourth in free throw percentage (132-157 FT, 84.1 percent).
Deshon Taylor is ranked third in the nation in free throws made (132).

Deshon Taylor has made:
   ~ at least 10 free throws in four games this season (eight in career)
   ~ 132 of his 157 free throws this season (84.1 percent, 18 games)
   ~ at least one 3-pointer in 12 straight games (18 of 19 games this season)
   ~ at least 15 points in eight straight games (17 of 19 games this season)

Bulldogs shatter record in win over Lobos
In the Bulldogs' 89-80 win over New Mexico (1/13/18), Fresno State set a new school record for a single game 3-point field goal percentage (minimum 10 attempts) by making nine of their 12 3-point field goal attempts (75 percent). That was nearly four percentage points better than the previous mark of 71.4 percent recorded twice previously in program history, with the last time back against Air Force in 1996. The 'Dogs also set a new Save Mart Center record for a team's single game field goal percentage (65.3 percent, 32-49 FG) in the nine-point win versus UNM.

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

’Dogs trek to Viejas for showdown with Aztecs

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Deshon Taylor

Bryson Williams

Fresno State Athletics

’Dogs trek to Viejas for showdown with Aztecs

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Deshon Taylor

Bryson Williams

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