Grimes, Bittner earn mid-season Value Add Basketball honors

FRESNO, Calif. --- Fresno State junior forward Nate Grimes and senior guard/forward Sam Bittner were included in Value Add Basketball's mid-season all-conference teams released on Monday morning.

Grimes was named Value Add Basketball's Mountain West mid-season Defensive Most Valuable Player and a first-team all-conference selection, while Sam Bittner was rated as a second-team all-MW performer.

Grimes (Las Vegas, Nev.) is currently averaging 11.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game for the Bulldogs this season. Grimes has four double-doubles and ranks second in the MW in blocked shots (1.9) and fifth in rebounding (8.8 rpg). He scored a season-high 19 points in the Bulldogs' conference-opening 73-53 victory at San Jose State on Jan. 2 and had a career-best 15 rebounds versus Miami on Nov. 23.

During the first four games of league play, Grimes has averaged 15.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game to help power the Bulldogs to three MW wins – tied for the most by any MW team so far this season.

Meanwhile, Bittner (Las Vegas, Nev.) is ranked ninth in the nation in 3-point field goal efficiency in making 52.6 percent (20-for-38) of his 3-point field goal attempts. Bittner is also averaging 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game for the Bulldogs, while primarily competing in the post and stretching teams out on the wing. He is Fresno State's only player this season to have started all 16 games.

Value Add Basketball uses a metrics formula to calculate how many points a player improves his team on offense, defense and overall.

Fresno State (12-4, 3-1 Mountain West) next plays at Boise State on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. PT on AT&T Sports Net and 940 AM ESPN Radio. The Bulldogs' next home game is Tuesday, Jan. 22 versus San Diego State. A special flash sale for the Jan. 22 game is running through Tuesday night (Jan. 15), which includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for $49.

Tickets for all remaining home games start at $15 ($10 for youth). Mini-plans start at $39 by calling 559-278-3647.

Value Add Basketball: 2018-19 Mid-season All-Mountain West Teams

Sam Merrill, Utah State – Player of the Year / First-Team All-MW
Jazz Johnson, Nevada – Offensive Most Valuable Player / First-Team All-MW
Nate Grimes, Fresno State – Defensive Most Valuable Player / First-Team All-MW
Caleb Martin, Nevada – First-Team All-MW
Cody Martin, Nevada – First-Team All-MW
Sam Bittner, Fresno State – Second-Team All-MW
Jordan Caroline, Nevada – Second-Team All-MW
Nico Carvacho, Colorado State – Second-Team All-MW
Neemias Queta, Utah State – Second-Team All-MW & Freshman Most Valuable Player
Tre'Shawn Thurman, Nevada – Second-Team All-MW

"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.

Fresno State Athletics

Grimes, Bittner earn mid-season Value Add Basketball honors

Players Mentioned

Sam Bittner

Nate Grimes

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