'Dogs start 2022 on Saturday at 1pm

Game 15: Air Force (8-4, 1-0 MW) at Fresno State (10-4, 0-1 MW)
Jan. 1, 2022 • 1 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. • Save Mart Center
TV/ONLINE: Mountain West Network (Matt Norville & Marc Q. Jones)
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network (Matt Norville & Marc Q. Jones)
SERIES HISTORY: Fresno State leads 24-8 (overall) & 12-3 (in Fresno)
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 67, Air Force 64 [2/13/21 • Clune Arena]
NEXT UP: at San Diego State (1/5); vs. Wyoming (1/8); vs. San Jose State (1/11)

THE BREAKDOWN

Fresno State Athletics is celebrating its centennial year and the 2021-22 men's basketball season is the 100th season of competition in program history.
Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson is now in his fourth season back home in the San Joaquin Valley.
Fresno State (10-4) and Air Force (8-4) ring in 2022 with a Saturday matinee (1 p.m. PT tip off) at the Save Mart Center. All active military and veterans get in FREE (Salute to Services Game).
As of Dec. 30, the Bulldogs are ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense (55.6 PPG).

OPENING TIP

The Fresno State men's basketball team hosts the Air Force Falcons on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center on the Mountain West Network (online) and the Bulldog Sports Network (radio).
This MW home opener is the Bulldogs' 101st game with Justin Hutson as the program's 19th head coach.
Fresno State leads the MW and ranks fifth in the nation in scoring defense (55.6 ppg allowed).
Fresno State also leads the MW in rebounding defense (29.4/avg) and turnover margin (+3.36).
Fresno State enters 2022 on a seven-game home winning streak (7-0 at home this season).

ROBINSON'S PRODUCTION COMPARES TO THE BEST IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Through games played on Dec. 28, Fresno State junior forward Orlando Robinson was ranked sixth in KenPom's 2022 Player of the Year Standings with a 1.308 kPOY rating. The other nine players in the Top 10 play for Ohio State, Kentucky, Gonzaga (two players), Purdue (two players), Iowa, Indiana and Michigan.
With 975 career points, Orlando Robinson (18.7 ppg/8.0 rpg) enters the game ranked 38th on the Bulldogs' all-time scoring list - 25 points away from becoming the 34th player in program history to score 1,000 points.

Fresno State junior forward Orlando Robinson has never been shy about his ambitions and goals. And before the start of the 2021-22 season, Robinson shared that one of those is to earn Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors. While his offensive games continues to shine, Robinson has also elevated his defensive production. Robinson, a Las Vegas native, is a 2021-22 preseason All-MW selection and earned 2020-21 second-team All-MW and NABC All-District honors, along with 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-District and MW Scholar Athlete honors.

NOTHING BUT NET

Through games played on Dec. 29, Fresno State was No. 57 in the NCAA's NET rankings.
Fresno State has been as high as No. 50 this season in the NET (through games played on Dec. 27).
Fresno State checked in at No. 93 in the NCAA's first NET rankings release of the 2021-22 season on Dec. 5.
In nonconference play, Fresno State currently has four NET Top 105 teams on its schedule (2-3 record).
As of Dec. 30, Fresno State has 12 games against NET Top 105 teams on its schedule (nine vs. Top 65).
Six Mountain West teams are currently in the Top 64 of the NCAA's NET rankings (five in Top 60).
The NCAA's NET rankings assist the NCAA Tournament selection committee seed and select at-large bids.

FRESNO STATE CONTENDING IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
Since joining the Mountain West in 2012, Fresno State has won the 2016 conference tournament championship and finished as high as second in the regular season. The Bulldogs have finished no lower than seventh in league play in its first nine seasons in the Mountain West, which includes four top four finishes in the past six seasons. In those last six MW campaigns, the 'Dogs won an average of 10.8 MW contests per year -- twice going 13-5 against MW opponents, including Hutson's first season at Fresno State during the 2018-19 season. Fresno State averaged nearly 10 conference victories per season in Hutson's first three seasons as the Bulldogs' head coach.

BULLDOGS RING IN 2022 WITH MW HOME OPENER
Fresno State leads the all-time series with Air Force, 24-8 (overall), which includes a 12-3 record against the Falcons in Fresno (7-1 at the Save Mart Center - all eight of those since the Bulldogs joined the MW in 2012).
Fresno State has won five of the last six meetings between the programs (5-2 in Hutson's tenure).
Last season, Fresno State swept the series at Clune Arena in February (Game 1: 69-63 & Game 2: 67-64).
Since joining the conference in 2012, Fresno State is 3-6 in MW home openers.
This is the first time Fresno State has started its MW home slate by hosting Air Force.

TRENDING

Fresno State is 9-1 when Jordan Campbell has scored at least 10 points in that game (nine straight wins).
Fresno State has held four teams this season to 20 points or less in the first half (FPU, USD, CSUN, WSU).
Fresno State has forced 67 first-half turnovers in its last seven games (averaging 9.6/game in that stretch).
Fresno State has attempted an average of 20.7 free throws (15.2 FTM/GM, 142-186 FT, .763) in non-road games versus 8.0 free throw attempts (5.2 FTM/GM, 26-40 FT, .650) in true road games.

"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 visit bulldogfoundation.org.

'Dogs start 2022 on Saturday at 1pm

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Campbell

Orlando Robinson

Fresno State Athletics

'Dogs start 2022 on Saturday at 1pm

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Campbell

Orlando Robinson

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