Fresno State Athletics
Wednesday, February 20
Fresno, Calif.
7 p.m. PT
Fresno State
vs
Air Force
Photo by: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
’Dogs host Falcons on Wednesday night
2/19/2019 4:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Fresno State is the only MW team to win at least 10 MW games in each of the last five seasons, including this season. Tickets start at $15 for all remaining home games.
Game 26: Air Force (10-15, 5-8 MW) at Fresno State (19-6, 10-3 MW)
Feb. 20, 2019 • 7 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
TV: AT&T Sports Net (Drew Goodman/Dave Bollwinkel)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones); 1600 AM ESPN Deportes (Jesse Beltran)
Series History: Fresno State leads 19-6 (overall) & 11-2 (games played in Fresno)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 54, Air Force 48 (2/26/18 • Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Next Up: at No. 6 Nevada (Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. PT); vs. Wyoming (Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. PT)
Fresno State's NCAA NET Ranking: No. 75 (through games played on Feb. 17, 2019)
Opening Tip
The Fresno State men's basketball team hosts the Air Force Falcons on Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. The game between Fresno State (19-6, 10-3 Mountain West) and Air Force (10-15, 5-8 MW) will be broadcast on AT&T Sports Net, 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes. Tickets start at $15 for all remaining home games.
About the Air Force Falcons
The Air Force Falcons are 10-15 on the season (5-8 in MW play) and currently sit in a tie for seventh in the conference standings. AFA is led in scoring by Lavelle Scottie (15.5 ppg). Fresno State has won the last three meetings and 10 of the last 11 games in its all-time series with Air Force. The Bulldogs have also won nine straight home games when playing the Falcons. The 'Dogs can earn the head-to-head tiebreaker over Air Force for 2019 MW Tournament seeding (if needed) with a win.
Bulldogs in second with five games to play
Fresno State (19-6, 10-3 MW) is tied for second in the MW with Utah State (20-6, 10-3 MW). The Bulldogs and Aggies are 1.5 games back of No. 6 Nevada (24-1, 11-1 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 six 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 19-6 record (.760 winning percentage) among first-time NCAA Division I head coaches this season.
Taylor shining in return to Golden State
Fresno State senior guard Deshon Taylor (Riverside, Calif.), who tested the NBA Draft waters last spring after earning first-team All-MW honors as a junior, is the home stretch of his collegiate career, which started at UMKC in 2014 before Taylor decided to return to his home state after his freshman season. He was key player in practice pushing the Bulldogs every day en route to the a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016 courtesy of winning the 2016 MW tournament championship. Taylor also set a new program record with 200 made free throws last season as a junior and had a school record 17 made free throws in a game at Wyoming as a sophomore. This season, Taylor missed four games in December with an elbow injury and returned for the Bulldogs' MW opener on Jan. 2 at SJSU. Taylor currently ranks in the Top 10 in the MW in scoring (7th, 16.5 ppg), assists (3rd, 4.4 apg), free throw percentage (7th, 76.4 percent), steals (2nd, 1.6 spg), assist-to-turnover ratio (7th, 1.6 A-TO), 3-pointers made (9th, 2.1 per game), 3-point field goal percentage (9th, 38.8 percent) and minutes played (2nd, 35.5 mpg).
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 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). Huggins earned MW Player of the Week honors on Feb. 18 for leading the Bulldogs to a 2-0 week with wins over Boise State and at New Mexico, when he averaged 22.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists (2.0 A-TO ratio) and 1.5 blocks while shooting 50 percent from the field (14-for-28), including seven 3-pointers.
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 (9.3 rpg). He has 12 career double-doubles, including nine this season (eight during MW play). Grimes ranks second in the MW in blocks (1.7 bpg) and second in field goal percentage (58.2 percent, 121-for-208). 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.
Consistent, sustained success for the Bulldogs
Fresno State is 45-22 in Mountain West play over the course of the last four seasons (since the start of the 2015-16 season), which ranks as the second-best conference record in the 11-team league. Fresno State is also one of three MW programs to have won 30 or more MW games in the last three seasons and one of four teams with 55 or more MW wins in the last five seasons. Fresno State is the only program to have won at least 10 MW games in each of the last five seasons. Fresno State and Boise State are the only two programs to have earned a first-round bye for the MW Tournament in each of the last four seasons.
Fresno State's consistency leads to success
Fresno State is the only Mountain West program to have a .500 record or better in league play in each of the past six seasons, including this season. Fresno State, Boise State and San Diego State won at least nine MW games in each of the last five seasons (before this season). Fresno State averaged 10.8 conference wins per season (previous five seasons), with at least 10 MW wins in now five straight seasons, including a 13-5 mark in 2015-16.
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 19 wins in his first 25 games. Hutson (19-6) joins the elite group of Ed Gregory (19-6), Boyd Grant (20-5) and Ray Lopes (19-6). 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 (.760) 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 in the NBA, and plays for the Phoenix Suns after starting his career in Miami.
Feb. 20, 2019 • 7 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
TV: AT&T Sports Net (Drew Goodman/Dave Bollwinkel)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones); 1600 AM ESPN Deportes (Jesse Beltran)
Series History: Fresno State leads 19-6 (overall) & 11-2 (games played in Fresno)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 54, Air Force 48 (2/26/18 • Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Next Up: at No. 6 Nevada (Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. PT); vs. Wyoming (Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. PT)
Fresno State's NCAA NET Ranking: No. 75 (through games played on Feb. 17, 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 can clinch a first-round bye in the 2019 MW Tournament with a win over Air Force.
- Fresno State is one of two MW teams (Boise State) to have earned a first round bye in each of the past four seasons..
- 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 the only MW team to win at least 10 MW games in each of the last five seasons, including 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 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 is one of 16 programs in the nation to average at least 10 made 3-pointers made per game this season.
- The Bulldogs are 28-5 in their last 33 games with at least 10 3-point FGs.
- Fresno State leads the MW in 3-point field goal percentage (37.9), 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.4) and 3-pointers made (10.1 per game).
- Fresno State is ninth in the nation in 3-point field goal defense (29.4).
- Fresno State has not lost by more than 10 points in any game this season.
- Fresno State has won 17 of its last 21 games (7-2 in last nine 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 (45) 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 6-2 in true road games this season (20th-best in nation).
- Fresno State is 63-15 overall at home since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 31-5 record versus nonconference opponents and a 32-9 record against Mountain West opponents in that stretch.
- Fresno State is 52-12 overall at home since the start of the 2015-16 season.
- Fresno State has won 25 of its last 32 home games when playing a Mountain West opponent (12 of its last 18 MW home games).
- Fresno State has won at least 11 home games in six straight seasons.
- Fresno State is 179-77 (69.9 percent) all-time at the Save Mart Center.
The Fresno State men's basketball team hosts the Air Force Falcons on Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. The game between Fresno State (19-6, 10-3 Mountain West) and Air Force (10-15, 5-8 MW) will be broadcast on AT&T Sports Net, 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes. Tickets start at $15 for all remaining home games.
About the Air Force Falcons
The Air Force Falcons are 10-15 on the season (5-8 in MW play) and currently sit in a tie for seventh in the conference standings. AFA is led in scoring by Lavelle Scottie (15.5 ppg). Fresno State has won the last three meetings and 10 of the last 11 games in its all-time series with Air Force. The Bulldogs have also won nine straight home games when playing the Falcons. The 'Dogs can earn the head-to-head tiebreaker over Air Force for 2019 MW Tournament seeding (if needed) with a win.
Bulldogs in second with five games to play
Fresno State (19-6, 10-3 MW) is tied for second in the MW with Utah State (20-6, 10-3 MW). The Bulldogs and Aggies are 1.5 games back of No. 6 Nevada (24-1, 11-1 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 six 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 19-6 record (.760 winning percentage) among first-time NCAA Division I head coaches this season.
Taylor shining in return to Golden State
Fresno State senior guard Deshon Taylor (Riverside, Calif.), who tested the NBA Draft waters last spring after earning first-team All-MW honors as a junior, is the home stretch of his collegiate career, which started at UMKC in 2014 before Taylor decided to return to his home state after his freshman season. He was key player in practice pushing the Bulldogs every day en route to the a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016 courtesy of winning the 2016 MW tournament championship. Taylor also set a new program record with 200 made free throws last season as a junior and had a school record 17 made free throws in a game at Wyoming as a sophomore. This season, Taylor missed four games in December with an elbow injury and returned for the Bulldogs' MW opener on Jan. 2 at SJSU. Taylor currently ranks in the Top 10 in the MW in scoring (7th, 16.5 ppg), assists (3rd, 4.4 apg), free throw percentage (7th, 76.4 percent), steals (2nd, 1.6 spg), assist-to-turnover ratio (7th, 1.6 A-TO), 3-pointers made (9th, 2.1 per game), 3-point field goal percentage (9th, 38.8 percent) and minutes played (2nd, 35.5 mpg).
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 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). Huggins earned MW Player of the Week honors on Feb. 18 for leading the Bulldogs to a 2-0 week with wins over Boise State and at New Mexico, when he averaged 22.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists (2.0 A-TO ratio) and 1.5 blocks while shooting 50 percent from the field (14-for-28), including seven 3-pointers.
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 (9.3 rpg). He has 12 career double-doubles, including nine this season (eight during MW play). Grimes ranks second in the MW in blocks (1.7 bpg) and second in field goal percentage (58.2 percent, 121-for-208). 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.
Consistent, sustained success for the Bulldogs
Fresno State is 45-22 in Mountain West play over the course of the last four seasons (since the start of the 2015-16 season), which ranks as the second-best conference record in the 11-team league. Fresno State is also one of three MW programs to have won 30 or more MW games in the last three seasons and one of four teams with 55 or more MW wins in the last five seasons. Fresno State is the only program to have won at least 10 MW games in each of the last five seasons. Fresno State and Boise State are the only two programs to have earned a first-round bye for the MW Tournament in each of the last four seasons.
Fresno State's consistency leads to success
Fresno State is the only Mountain West program to have a .500 record or better in league play in each of the past six seasons, including this season. Fresno State, Boise State and San Diego State won at least nine MW games in each of the last five seasons (before this season). Fresno State averaged 10.8 conference wins per season (previous five seasons), with at least 10 MW wins in now five straight seasons, including a 13-5 mark in 2015-16.
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 19 wins in his first 25 games. Hutson (19-6) joins the elite group of Ed Gregory (19-6), Boyd Grant (20-5) and Ray Lopes (19-6). 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 (.760) 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 in the NBA, and plays for the Phoenix Suns after starting his career in Miami.
Players Mentioned
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