’Dogs head to UNLV for key MW contest

Game 23: Fresno State (16-6, 7-3 MW) at UNLV (12-10, 6-4 MW)
Feb. 9, 2019 • 2 p.m. PT • Las Vegas, Nev. (Thomas & Mack Center)
TV/Online: ESPN3 (Trey Bender/Richie Schueler)
Radio: 940 AM ESPN (Paul Loeffler/Marc Q. Jones)
Series History: UNLV leads 30-14 (overall) & 17-4 (games played in Las Vegas)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 77, UNLV 64 (2/21/18 • Las Vegas, Nev.)
Next Up: vs. Boise State (Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. PT); at New Mexico (Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. PT)
Fresno State's NCAA NET Ranking: No. 81 (through games played on Feb. 7, 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 is one of three MW programs to have finished .500 or better in league play in each of the past five seasons (Boise State/SDSU).

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 has made at least four 3-pointers in every game this season. The Bulldogs are 26-5 in their last 31 games making at least 10 3pt-FGs.
Fresno State leads the MW in 3-point field goal percentage (37.5), 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.7) and 3-pointers made (9.8 per game).
Fresno State is 14-2 this season when scoring at least 70 points.
Fresno State is 11-1 this season when allowing under 70 points.
Fresno State is 13-1 this season when having a better assist-to-turnover ratio than its opponent.
Fresno State is 11-1 this season when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent.
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 not lost by more than 10 points in any game this season.
Fresno State has won 14 of its last 18 games.
Fresno State has won eight of its last 11 true road games.
Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson is 22-2 all-time as a Division I head coach (1-0) and assistant coach (21-2) when coaching against one of his former teams. Hutson coached at UNLV as the associate head coach from 2011-13.

'Dogs head to UNLV for key MW contest
The Fresno State men's basketball team visits the UNLV Runnin' Rebels on Saturday at 2 p.m. PT at the Thomas & Mack Center with the winner earning a potentially important tiebreaker for seeding in the 2019 MW Basketball Tournament. The game between Fresno State (16-6, 7-3 Mountain West) and UNLV (12-10, 6-4 MW) will be broadcast on ESPN3 and 940 AM ESPN Radio. Fresno State will next play at home versus Boise State on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets for all remaining home games start at $15 (mini-plans start at $39) at the Save Mart Center Box Office.

About the UNLV Runnin' Rebels
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are 12-10 (6-4 in MW play) and enter Saturday's game in fourth place in the conference standings. UNLV is fresh off an 83-72 road win at Boise State on Wednesday and has won four of its five MW home games - the lone loss to MW-leader Nevada on Jan. 29. The Runnin' Rebels are led in scoring by Kris Clyburn (13.7 ppg). Fresno State has won six straight games in its all-time series with UNLV. This will be the only game between Fresno State and UNLV during the regular season.

Bulldogs alone in third, seeking key MW win
Fresno State is in sole possession of third place in the MW standings. The Bulldogs (16-6, 7-3 Mountain West) are two games back of No. 6/6 Nevada (22-1, 9-1 MW) as the 'Dogs are seeking their fifth straight first round bye for the MW Tournament (top five seeds in MW play). Fresno State is one of three MW teams with four conference road wins so far this season.

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.

MW Tourney Tickets on Sale at the Bulldog Ticket Office
The 2019 Mountain West Basketball Tournament is quickly approaching and will take place from March 13-16 in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center. It is critical for Fresno State fans interested in attending to purchase all-tournament tickets directly through the Bulldog Ticket Office. All-tournament tickets include admission to all tournament games (both men's and women's contests) and are on sale now through the Bulldog Ticket Office for $250 at www.GoBulldogs.com or by calling 559-278-3647. The priority order deadline is this Sunday, Feb. 10. Assigned seating is based on Bulldog Foundation priority points.

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 (9.2 rpg). He has 10 career double-doubles, including seven this season (six during conference play). Grimes also ranks third in the MW in blocks (1.7 bpg) and second in field goal percentage (57.8 percent, 107-for-185). 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 23rd in the country in 3-point field goal percentage (48.3 percent, 29-for-60) 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.

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. He currently ranks in the Top 10 in the MW in scoring (7th, 16.2 ppg), assists (4th, 4.6 apg), free throw percentage (6th, 78.1 percent), steals (2nd, 1.5 spg), assist-to-turnover ratio (7th, 1.7 A-TO) and minutes played (3rd, 35.6 mpg).

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 currently plays for the Phoenix Suns after starting his career with the Miami Heat.

’Dogs head to UNLV for key MW contest

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Bittner

Nate Grimes

Deshon Taylor

Fresno State Athletics

’Dogs head to UNLV for key MW contest

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Bittner

Nate Grimes

Deshon Taylor

Related Videos