Bulldogs return to hardwood at CSUN

Game 6: Fresno State (2-3) at CSUN (0-7)
Nov. 30, 2019 • 3 p.m. PT • Northridge, Calif. (The Matadome)
Online: BigWest.TV (Ghizal Hasan)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN (Randy Rosenbloom/Marc Q. Jones)
Series History: Fresno State leads 27-5 (overall) & 9-2 (games played in Northridge, Calif.)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 89, CSUN 73 (Nov. 13, 2017 • Fresno, Calif.)
Next Up: vs. UNLV (Dec. 4); at Utah State (Dec. 7); at Cal (Dec. 10); at Cal Poly (Dec. 14)
Fresno State's 2018-19 Final NCAA NET Ranking: No. 82

Opening Tip

Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson is in his second season after winning 23 games in his first season back home in the San Joaquin Valley.
Hutson was named the 2018-19 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year.
Hutson, a Bakersfield native, had spent 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 four seasons (five of the past six seasons) and joined the Mountain West in 2012.

Bulldogs return to hardwood at CSUN
Fresno State, who is 25-12 since head coach Justin Hutson's arrival in 2018, will visit the CSUN Matadors on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on BigWest.TV and 940 AM ESPN Radio. This is the start of a 2-for-1 series between the Bulldogs and Matadors with Fresno State scheduled to host CSUN during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

Fresno State & CSUN: All-Time Series History
When the Bulldogs and Matadors tip off Saturday, it will be the 33rd all-time meeting (12th time in Southern California) between the programs separated by 208 miles. Fresno State owns a 27-5 advantage in the all-time series, which includes a 9-2 record in true road games. The Bulldogs have also won the last four in the series and nine of the last 10. Fresno State has not lost to CSUN since falling 69-66 at Selland Arena on Nov. 30, 1999. The 'Dogs also have also three straight meetings in Northridge with Fresno State's last road loss in the series coming back during the 1968-69 season when the Matadors edged the Bulldogs 100-97 in overtime.

Hyder ranks in Top 15 in NCAA freshman scorers
Through the first three weeks of the season, Fresno State freshman point guard Jarred Hyder (San Bernardino, Calif.) is ranked 11th in the nation in scoring (17.8 ppg) for all NCAA Division I freshmen scorers. Hyder has scored at least 20 points in each of his last three contests for a total of 69 points during the stretch, which includes 49 points in two games in three days having scored 26 points (Nov. 10 vs. Winthrop) and 23 points (Nov. 12 at San Diego), and then going for 20 points (Nov. 20 versus Saint Mary's in Sacramento). For the season, Hyder has played a team-high 130 minutes (32.5 mpg) in averaging 17.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He has also made 10 3-pointers (10-for-23 3FG, 43.5 percent) with a 53.2 percent field goal efficiency (25-for-47) and sports a 84.6 free throw percentage (11-for-13).

Blackwell fiercely enhancing game
For Fresno State fifth-year senior guard Noah Blackwell, who is from Roseville, Calif., the 2019-20 season will be his last collegiate campaign. He played two seasons at Long Beach State with his first career start for the 49ers as a freshman in 2015 coming against then-No. 12 Duke when he scored 19 points against the Blue Devils. During his LBSU career, Blackwell was a solid contributor, primarily at shooting guard, before deciding to transfer to Fresno State in 2017. After redshirting the 2017-18 season, the 6-foot-3 play-making point guard averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game last season, especially thriving late in nonconference play when Hutson needed someone to fill the void with veteran All-Mountain West guard Deshon Taylor sidelined with an elbow injury. Blackwell currently leads the team and ranks 10th nationally (No. 2 in the MW) with a 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio (15-3 A-TO).

Bulldog Bones

Fresno State has won seven straight contests against Big West opponents (3-0 during Hutson's tenure). Last loss: at Cal Poly (77-65) on Dec. 5, 2015
Fresno State senior guard Noah Blackwell is tied for 10th in the nation (second in the MW) in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.0 A-TO ratio, 15-3).
Fresno State is opening the season by playing seven of its first 10 games away from the Save Mart Center (six road games + one neutral site game).
Fresno State fifth-year senior forward Nate Grimes is currently tied for eighth on the Bulldogs' all-time shot blocking list with 94 career blocks.
Fresno State is 19-2 when leading at halftime during Hutson's tenure.

'Dogs to play three preseason AP Top 25 teams early

Fresno State is one of two teams (Michigan State) in the nation that had three teams ranked in the Preseason AP Top 25 poll on its schedule for the first eight games of the 2019-20 regular season.
Fresno State opened the season at Oregon (No. 15) on Nov. 5, and then played Saint Mary's (No. 20) in Sacramento at Golden 1 Center on Nov. 20 and visits Utah State (No. 17) on Dec. 7 (AP Top 25 preseason rankings).

A proven winner and consistent contender in the MW

Fresno State has won the second-most MW games in the last three seasons (35) and in the last four seasons (48).
Fresno State is one of three programs (Nevada and San Diego State) with 58 or more MW wins in the last five seasons.
Fresno State is the only program to earn a MW Tournament first-round bye in each of the past five seasons.
Fresno State is one of two programs, along with San Diego State, with a .500 record or better in MW play in each of the last six seasons.
Fresno State is the only team to win at least 10 MW games in each of the last five seasons.

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.

Bulldogs return to hardwood at CSUN

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Players Mentioned

Noah Blackwell

Nate Grimes

Jarred Hyder

Deshon Taylor

Bulldogs return to hardwood at CSUN

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Players Mentioned

Noah Blackwell

Nate Grimes

Jarred Hyder

Deshon Taylor

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