Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, January 19
Boise, Idaho
2:30 p.m. PT
Fresno State
at
Boise State
Photo by: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
’Dogs visit Broncos on Saturday afternoon
1/18/2019 11:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Saturday's matinee will be broadcast on AT&T Sports Net and 940 AM ESPN Radio.
Game 17: Fresno State (12-4, 3-1 MW) at Boise State (8-9, 3-1 MW)
Jan. 19, 2019 • 2:30 p.m. PT • Boise, Idaho (Taco Bell Arena)
TV: AT&T Sports Net (Drew Goodman/Joe Cravens)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones)
Series History: Boise State leads 22-19 (overall) & 13-6 (games played in Boise, Idaho)
Last Meeting: Boise State 70, Fresno State 64 (1/9/19 • Fresno, Calif.)
Next Up: vs. San Diego State (Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. PT); at Colorado State (Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. PT)
Fresno State's NCAA NET Ranking: No. 66 (through games played on Jan. 16, 2019)
REFERENCE: "Fresno State" (never: FSU, CSUF, Fresno State University, or just simply "Fresno"); ABBREVIATION: Fresno St. or FS
Opening Tip
The Fresno State men's basketball team will visit the Boise State Broncos on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. PT at Taco Bell Arena. The game between Fresno State (12-4, 3-1 Mountain West) and Boise State (8-9, 3-1 MW) will be broadcast on AT&T Sports Net and 940 AM ESPN Radio. After Saturday's game, Fresno State will return home to face San Diego State on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. PT. Tickets for all remaining home games start at $15. Mini-plans start at $39 by calling 559-278-DOGS.
About the Boise State Broncos
The Boise State Broncos are 8-9 on the season, including a 3-1 record in MW play. The Broncos are led in scoring by Justinian Jessup (13.0 ppg). While Boise State leads the all-time series 22-19 (overall) and 13-6 (games played in Boise), the Bulldogs have won four of the last seven meetings between the programs, including a 74-67 road victory the last time the two teams played inside Taco Bell Arena (Feb. 28, 2017).
Huggins delivers big week for the Bulldogs
Fresno State redshirt senior guard Braxton Huggins (Bakersfield, Calif.) has emerged as one of the most dynamic scoring threats in the West. Last week, Huggins scored 58 points (29.0 ppg) with 13 3-pointers while making 55.3 percent of his field goal attempts (21-for-38) and 54.2 percent of his 3-point field goal shots (13-for-24) against two teams in the Top 50 of the NCAA's NET rankings. He scored a career-high 33 points (25 points in the second half), with a career-high eight 3-pointers, including the ice-cold game-winner on a double crossover in isolation with 5.5 seconds remaining to lead the Bulldogs to a 78-77 road win at Utah State on Jan. 9. He also had 25 points and five rebounds against No. 10/11 Nevada.
Fresno State's consistency leads to success
Fresno State is one of three Mountain West programs to have finished .500 or better in league play in each of the past five seasons. Fresno State, Boise State and San Diego State have won at least nine conference games in each of the last five seasons. Fresno State has averaged 10.8 conference wins per season (last five seasons), with at least 10 MW wins for four straight seasons, including a 13-5 mark in 2015-16.
Grimes rising on both ends of the floor
Fresno State junior forward Nate Grimes (Las Vegas, Nev.) currently ranks fourth in the Mountain West in rebounding (8.8 rpg). He has seven career double-doubles, including four this season (three during conference play). Grimes also ranks second in the MW in blocks (1.9 bpg) and field goal percentage (57.6 percent, 76-for-132). He had a season-high 15 rebounds versus Miami on Nov. 23 (six games this season with at least 10 rebounds)
Bittner's 3-point efficiency earning respect
Fresno State senior guard/forward Sam Bittner (Las Vegas, Nev.) is once again one of the nation's most efficient 3-point shooters. This season, Bittner is ranked ninth in the country in 3-point field goal percentage (52.6 percent, 20-for-38) for players averaging at least one made 3-pointer per team game. Last season, Bittner was 11th in the nation in 3-point field goal efficiency (48.1 percent, 39-for-81). Bittner is a former walk-on, who has since earned a scholarship and has consistently improved throughout his four-year career at Fresno State. Bittner started four games (played in 18) as a freshman when the Bulldogs went to the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
'Dogs build strong resume in nonconference
During nonconference play, Fresno State started building its resume for a potential at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament and NIT by playing a competitive schedule (No. 79 nationally in nonconference strength of schedule). Fresno State handed the Big Ten's Northwestern its first and one of its biggest losses of the season when the Bulldogs crushed the Wildcats 78-59 in the Wooden Legacy. Northwestern's other three losses before January [at Indiana (68-66), vs. then-No. 5 Michigan (62-60) and vs. Oklahoma (76-69 in OT)] were all close games. Seven of Fresno State's nine nonconference wins were by at least 15 points and the Bulldogs also tested themselves on the road at then-No. 21 TCU - a game Fresno State led at halftime before coming up just short of the upset.
George, Johnson represent Fresno State in NBA
Former Fresno State basketball players Paul George (2008-10) and Tyler Johnson (2010-14) are two of the 30 former Bulldogs to have played in the NBA. George is currently in his ninth NBA season and second with the Oklahoma City Thunder after being drafted 10th overall in 2010 by the Indiana Pacers, who he played for from 2010-17. Johnson is in his fifth season with the Miami Heat.
Jan. 19, 2019 • 2:30 p.m. PT • Boise, Idaho (Taco Bell Arena)
TV: AT&T Sports Net (Drew Goodman/Joe Cravens)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones)
Series History: Boise State leads 22-19 (overall) & 13-6 (games played in Boise, Idaho)
Last Meeting: Boise State 70, Fresno State 64 (1/9/19 • Fresno, Calif.)
Next Up: vs. San Diego State (Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. PT); at Colorado State (Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. PT)
Fresno State's NCAA NET Ranking: No. 66 (through games played on Jan. 16, 2019)
REFERENCE: "Fresno State" (never: FSU, CSUF, Fresno State University, or just simply "Fresno"); ABBREVIATION: Fresno St. or FS
Opening Tip
- First-year Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson is back home in the Valley. Hutson, a Bakersfield native, spent the last 12 seasons (San Diego State and UNLV) as one of the most respected assistant coaches in country.
- Fresno State has won at least 20 games in each of the past three seasons (four of the past five seasons) and joined the Mountain West in 2012..
- Fresno State is one of two MW teams with NCAA Quadrant 1 NET road win so far this season. The Bulldogs are 2-3 against Q1 & Q2 teams.
- Fresno State is one of two MW teams (Boise State) to have earned a first round bye in each of the past four seasons.
- Last season, Fresno State (21-11, 11-7 MW) finished fourth in the MW standings and earned its third straight Top 4 seed for the MW Tournament.
- Fresno State has won its first two conference road games for the first time since the 2003-04 season, when the Bulldogs started 3-0 before losing its next three conference road games.
- Fresno State is 2-1 in true road games this season.
- Fresno State has outscored four autonomy five conference schools (TCU, Northwestern, Miami & Cal) by a combined score of 318-287 (+31) this season.
- Fresno State is 43-3 in its last 46 games when shooting at least 50 percent from the field (5-0 this season). Fresno State senior guard Sam Bittner ranks ninth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (52.6).
- Fresno State has made at least six 3-pointers in every game this season. The Bulldogs are 24-4 in their last 28 games making at least 10 3pt-FGs.
- Fresno State leads the MW in 3-point field goal percentage (38.4), 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.1) and 3-pointers made (10.1 per game).
- Fresno State's four losses have all been to Top 150 NET teams and by a total of 24 points (average of 6.0 points; no losses by more than 10 points).
- Fresno State is 10-0 this season when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent. (Last Loss: at New Mexico 95, Fresno State 86 [OT] • 3/3/18)
- Fresno State has led at halftime in 13 of its 16 games this season.
- Fresno State has won 10 of its last 12 games.
The Fresno State men's basketball team will visit the Boise State Broncos on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. PT at Taco Bell Arena. The game between Fresno State (12-4, 3-1 Mountain West) and Boise State (8-9, 3-1 MW) will be broadcast on AT&T Sports Net and 940 AM ESPN Radio. After Saturday's game, Fresno State will return home to face San Diego State on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. PT. Tickets for all remaining home games start at $15. Mini-plans start at $39 by calling 559-278-DOGS.
About the Boise State Broncos
The Boise State Broncos are 8-9 on the season, including a 3-1 record in MW play. The Broncos are led in scoring by Justinian Jessup (13.0 ppg). While Boise State leads the all-time series 22-19 (overall) and 13-6 (games played in Boise), the Bulldogs have won four of the last seven meetings between the programs, including a 74-67 road victory the last time the two teams played inside Taco Bell Arena (Feb. 28, 2017).
Huggins delivers big week for the Bulldogs
Fresno State redshirt senior guard Braxton Huggins (Bakersfield, Calif.) has emerged as one of the most dynamic scoring threats in the West. Last week, Huggins scored 58 points (29.0 ppg) with 13 3-pointers while making 55.3 percent of his field goal attempts (21-for-38) and 54.2 percent of his 3-point field goal shots (13-for-24) against two teams in the Top 50 of the NCAA's NET rankings. He scored a career-high 33 points (25 points in the second half), with a career-high eight 3-pointers, including the ice-cold game-winner on a double crossover in isolation with 5.5 seconds remaining to lead the Bulldogs to a 78-77 road win at Utah State on Jan. 9. He also had 25 points and five rebounds against No. 10/11 Nevada.
Fresno State's consistency leads to success
Fresno State is one of three Mountain West programs to have finished .500 or better in league play in each of the past five seasons. Fresno State, Boise State and San Diego State have won at least nine conference games in each of the last five seasons. Fresno State has averaged 10.8 conference wins per season (last five seasons), with at least 10 MW wins for four straight seasons, including a 13-5 mark in 2015-16.
Grimes rising on both ends of the floor
Fresno State junior forward Nate Grimes (Las Vegas, Nev.) currently ranks fourth in the Mountain West in rebounding (8.8 rpg). He has seven career double-doubles, including four this season (three during conference play). Grimes also ranks second in the MW in blocks (1.9 bpg) and field goal percentage (57.6 percent, 76-for-132). He had a season-high 15 rebounds versus Miami on Nov. 23 (six games this season with at least 10 rebounds)
Bittner's 3-point efficiency earning respect
Fresno State senior guard/forward Sam Bittner (Las Vegas, Nev.) is once again one of the nation's most efficient 3-point shooters. This season, Bittner is ranked ninth in the country in 3-point field goal percentage (52.6 percent, 20-for-38) for players averaging at least one made 3-pointer per team game. Last season, Bittner was 11th in the nation in 3-point field goal efficiency (48.1 percent, 39-for-81). Bittner is a former walk-on, who has since earned a scholarship and has consistently improved throughout his four-year career at Fresno State. Bittner started four games (played in 18) as a freshman when the Bulldogs went to the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
'Dogs build strong resume in nonconference
During nonconference play, Fresno State started building its resume for a potential at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament and NIT by playing a competitive schedule (No. 79 nationally in nonconference strength of schedule). Fresno State handed the Big Ten's Northwestern its first and one of its biggest losses of the season when the Bulldogs crushed the Wildcats 78-59 in the Wooden Legacy. Northwestern's other three losses before January [at Indiana (68-66), vs. then-No. 5 Michigan (62-60) and vs. Oklahoma (76-69 in OT)] were all close games. Seven of Fresno State's nine nonconference wins were by at least 15 points and the Bulldogs also tested themselves on the road at then-No. 21 TCU - a game Fresno State led at halftime before coming up just short of the upset.
George, Johnson represent Fresno State in NBA
Former Fresno State basketball players Paul George (2008-10) and Tyler Johnson (2010-14) are two of the 30 former Bulldogs to have played in the NBA. George is currently in his ninth NBA season and second with the Oklahoma City Thunder after being drafted 10th overall in 2010 by the Indiana Pacers, who he played for from 2010-17. Johnson is in his fifth season with the Miami Heat.
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