’Dogs hit the road again to take on Lobos

Game 25: Fresno State (18-6, 9-3 MW) at New Mexico (11-13, 5-7 MW)
Feb. 16, 2019 • 4 p.m. PT • Albuquerque, N.M. (Dreamstyle Arena - The Pit)
TV: ESPN3 (Trey Bender/Richie Schueler)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones)
Series History: New Mexico leads 16-13 (overall) & 10-1 (games played at The Pit)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 82, New Mexico 70 (2/2/19 • Fresno, Calif.)
Next Up: vs. Air Force (Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. PT); at No. 7/6 Nevada (Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. PT)
Fresno State's NCAA NET Ranking: No. 78 (through games played on Feb. 14, 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 has one NCAA Quadrant 1 NET road win so far this season (at Utah State, 78-77, Jan. 9, 2019).
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 is the only MW program to have a .500 record or better in league play in each of the last six seasons, including this season.
Fresno State is one win away from becoming the first team to win at least 10 MW games in each of the last five seasons, including this season.

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 44-3 in its last 47 games when shooting at least 50 percent from the field (6-0 this season and nine consecutive games).
Fresno State has made at least four 3-pointers in every game this season. The Bulldogs are 27-5 in their last 32 games making at least 10 3pt-FGs.
Fresno State leads the MW in 3-point field goal percentage (37.9), 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.0) and 3-pointers made (10.0 per game).
Fresno State is ninth in the nation in 3-point field goal defense (29.0).
Fresno State has not lost by more than 10 points in any game this season.
Fresno State has won 16 of its last 20 games (6-2 in last eight MW games).
Fresno State has won 11 consecutive games when at least four different Bulldogs score 10 or more points in a game (11-0 this season).
Fresno State has won the second-most MW games (44) in the last four seasons and the Bulldogs are one of three MW programs (Boise State and Nevada) with 30 or more MW wins in the last three seasons.
Fresno State is 5-2 in true road games this season (T-20th-best in nation).

Road 'Dogs: Fresno State winning on the road

Fresno State 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 has won nine of its last 12 true road games.
Fresno State leads the MW with five conference road wins so far this season.

'Dogs hit the road again to take on Lobos
The Fresno State men's basketball team visits the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT at Dreamstyle Arena - The Pit. The game between Fresno State (18-6, 9-3 Mountain West) and New Mexico (11-13, 5-7 MW) will be broadcast on ESPN3 and 940 AM ESPN Radio. The Bulldogs next host Air Force on Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT. Tickets start at $15.

About the New Mexico Lobos
The New Mexico Lobos are 11-13 on the season (5-7 in MW play) and currently sit in a tie for seventh in the conference standings. UNM has won two of its last three games and beat then-No. 5/6 Nevada 85-58 back on Jan. 5. Fresno State has defeated UNM just once in 11 previous trips to face the Lobos at The Pit when the Bulldogs won 92-82 back on Feb. 27, 2016. The 'Dogs can earn the head-to-head tiebreaker over New Mexico for 2019 MW Tournament seeding (if needed) with a win.

Bulldogs in second with six games to play
Fresno State (18-6, 9-3 MW) is tied for second in the MW with Utah State (19-6, 9-3 MW). The Bulldogs and Aggies are 1.5 games back of No. 7/6 Nevada (23-1, 10-1 MW) as the 'Dogs are seeking their fifth straight first round bye for the MW Tournament (top five seeds in MW play). Fresno State leads the MW with five conference road wins so far this season.

Coach Hut leads the nation
Fresno State first-year head coach Justin Hutson leads the country with an 18-6 record (.750 winning percentage) among first-time NCAA Division I head coaches this season. Hutson is in his first D-1 head coaching job.

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 18 wins in his first 24 games. Hutson (18-6) joins the elite group of Ed Gregory (18-6), Boyd Grant (19-5) and Ray Lopes (19-5). 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 (.750) of any head coach in program history.

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 third in 3-pointers made (3.1 per game) and fourth in scoring (19.0 ppg). He was named to the 2018 Wooden Legacy All-Tournament team for helping lead the 'Dogs 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 third in the Mountain West in rebounding (9.6 rpg). He has 12 career double-doubles, including nine this season (eight during MW play). Grimes also ranks third in the MW in blocks (1.7 bpg) and second in field goal percentage (58.1 percent, 118-for-203). He had a matched a season-high with 19 points and also had a career-high 19 rebounds (a Save Mart Center record) in the Bulldogs' 82-70 win over New Mexico on Feb. 2.

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 47th in the country in 3-point field goal percentage (45.6 percent, 31-for-68) 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.

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 in the NBA, and plays for the Phoenix Suns after starting his career in Miami.

’Dogs hit the road again to take on Lobos

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Bittner

Nate Grimes

Braxton Huggins

Fresno State Athletics

’Dogs hit the road again to take on Lobos

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Bittner

Nate Grimes

Braxton Huggins

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