Bulldogs host Aztecs on Tuesday night

Game 18: San Diego State (10-7, 2-2 MW) at Fresno State (13-4, 4-1 MW)
Jan. 22, 2019 • 8 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
TV: ESPNU (Roxy Bernstein/Richie Schueler)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones); 1600 AM ESPN Deportes (Jesse Beltran)
Series History: San Diego State leads 62-54 (overall) • Fresno State leads 32-21 (games in Fresno)
Last Meeting: San Diego State 64, Fresno State 52 (Las Vegas, Nev. • MW Quarterfinals)
Next Up: at Colorado State (Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. PT); at Wyoming (Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. PT)
Fresno State's NCAA NET Ranking: No. 64 (through games played on Jan. 20, 2019)

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 a NCAA Quadrant 1 NET road win so far this season. The Bulldogs are 2-3 in Q1 & Q2 games.
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 three conference road games for the first time since the 2003-04 season (first time since joining the MW in 2012).
Fresno State is tied for 16th in the nation for its true road winning percentage this season (3-1, .750 true road game winning percentage).

Bulldog Bones - By the numbers

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 (38.0), 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.6) and 3-pointers made (9.9 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.
Fresno State has led at halftime in 13 of its 17 games this season.
Fresno State has won 11 of its last 13 games.
Fresno State is 5-0 against teams from California this season.

Protecting the Yard

Fresno State is 60-14 overall at home since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 29-8 record against Mountain West opponents in that stretch.
Fresno State has won 22 of its last 28 home games when playing a Mountain West opponent.
Fresno State has not lost back-to-back MW home games since 2014 (1/18/14 vs. New Mexico, 89-78, and 1/22/14 vs. Nevada, 96-86, 2OT.)
Fresno State has won at least 11 home games in five straight seasons (8-2 this season at home).
Fresno State is 176-76 (69.8 percent) all-time at the Save Mart Center.

'Dogs host Aztecs on Tuesday night
The Fresno State men's basketball team will host the San Diego State Aztecs on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. PT at Save Mart Center. The game between Fresno State (13-4, 4-1 Mountain West) and San Diego State (10-7, 2-2 MW) will be broadcast on ESPNU, 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes. Tickets for all remaining home games start at $15.

About the San Diego State Aztecs
The San Diego State Aztecs are 10-7 on the season, including a 2-2 record in MW play. SDSU is led in scoring by Jalen McDaniels (15.9 ppg/8.0 rpg) and Devin Watson (15.6 ppg/5.1 apg). Fresno State has won five of the last seven games in its series with San Diego State.

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.

Bulldogs tied for second early in MW play
After three weeks of Mountain West play, Fresno State is tied for second place in the conference standings. The Bulldogs (13-4, 4-1 Mountain West) are a half game back of No. 7 Nevada (18-1, 4-1 MW) and even with UNLV (10-7, 4-1 MW). Fresno State owns a league-best three MW road rwins and the 'Dogs are one of two MW teams - along with Boise State - undefeated on the road in conference play so far this season.

Taylor embracing role as leader, point guard
Fresno State senior guard Deshon Taylor returned for the Bulldogs' MW opener at San Jose State after missing four games with a left elbow injury suffered on Dec. 7 and has averaged 14.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists with a 2.9 assist-to-turnover ratio in MW play (up from a 1.6 A-TO in non-conference). For the season, he has averaged 16.6 points (sixth in the MW), 4.8 assists (third in the MW) and 1.5 steals (second in the MW).

Huggins showcasing experience, explosiveness
Fresno State redshirt senior guard Braxton Huggins (Bakersfield, Calif.) returned home to the Valley for his final collegiate season after playing his first three seasons leading New Mexico State to the NCAA Tournament twice and the NIT once. This season, Huggins has emerged as one of the best guards in the MW - ranking second in 3-pointers made (3.3 per game) and third in scoring (18.4 ppg). He was named to the 2018 Wooden Legacy All-Tournament team for helping lead the Bulldogs to a third-place finish in eight-team field with a 2-1 record, including big wins over Northwestern and Hawai'i and a 2-point loss to the ACC's Miami. Huggins had a career-high 33 points with eight 3-pointers in a 78-77 win at Utah State (1/9/19).

Grimes delivering 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 (2.0 bpg) and field goal percentage (56.5 percent, 79-for-140). He had a season-high 15 rebounds versus Miami on Nov. 23 (six games this season with at least 10 rebounds)

Bittner's impact 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 tenth in the country in 3-point field goal percentage (51.6 percent, 20-for-39) 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.

Coach Hut in elite company
Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson (Coach Hut) is one of four head coaches in program history (out of 19) to have started his career with at least 13 wins in his first 17 games. Hutson (13-4) joins the elite group of Ed Gregory (14-3), Boyd Grant (15-2) and Ray Lopes (14-3). Gregory (1965-66) and Lopes (2002-03) went on to win conference championships in their first seasons, while Grant is the Bulldogs' all-time winningest head coach (194 wins, 1977-86). Hutson also currently owns the best winningest percentage (.765) of any head coach in program history.

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.

Bulldogs host Aztecs on Tuesday night

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Bittner

Nate Grimes

Braxton Huggins

Deshon Taylor

Fresno State Athletics

Bulldogs host Aztecs on Tuesday night

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Bittner

Nate Grimes

Braxton Huggins

Deshon Taylor

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