Bulldogs fly to face Falcons

Game 27: Fresno State (16-10, 6-7 MW) at Air Force (10-15, 3-11 MW)
Feb. 22, 2022 • 6 p.m. PT • USAFA, Colo. • Clune Arena
TV/ONLINE: Mountain West Network (Jim Arthur)
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler & Marc Q. Jones)
SERIES HISTORY: Fresno State leads 24-8 (overall) & 10-4 (at Air Force)
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 67, Air Force 64 [2/13/21 • Clune Arena]
NEXT UP: vs. New Mexico (2/28); at San Diego State (3/3); at Wyoming (3/5)

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 (16-10, 6-7 MW) and Air Force (10-15, 3-11 MW) will meet on Tuesday at Clune Arena.
Fresno State is in sixth place in the Mountain West standings (top five earn first round byes in MW Tourney).

OPENING TIP

Fresno State is second in the MW and ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense (58.1 ppg allowed).
Fresno State leads the MW in rebounding defense (29.69/avg).
As of Feb. 20, Fresno State ranked 29th in the nation in turnovers committed per game (10.7).
Fresno State has limited its opponents to fewer than 70 points in 24 of its 26 games this season.
Fresno State is currently scheduled to play three of its final four MW games on the road.
The only time Fresno State lost five straight MW games was back in January 2014.
Since joining the MW in 2012, Fresno State has lost four or more consecutive games six times, including the Bulldogs' current four-game losing streak entering Tuesday's game at Air Force.

ROBINSON'S PRODUCTION COMPARES TO THE BEST IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Through games played on Feb. 20, Fresno State junior forward Orlando Robinson was ranked eighth in KenPom's 2022 Player of the Year Standings with a 1.315 kPOY rating (T-2nd nationally in Game MVPs: 14).
With 1,185 career points, Orlando Robinson (18.4 ppg/8.1 rpg) enters the game ranked 24th on the Bulldogs' all-time scoring list - two points away from climbing into a tie for 23rd with Lonnie Hughey (1965-66).
Robinson was named to the Mid-Season Watch List for the 2021-22 Lute Olson National Player of the Year.

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 offense 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 & KENPOM

Through games played on Feb. 20, Fresno State was No. 65 in the 2022 Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings.
Through games played on Feb. 20, Fresno State was No. 74 in the NCAA's NET rankings.
Fresno State entered conference play as high as No. 50 in the NET (through games played on Dec. 27) and has been as high as No. 48 overall (through games played on Jan. 14).
Fresno State checked in at No. 93 in the NCAA's first NET rankings release of the 2021-22 season on Dec. 5.
Fresno State has three Quad 2 wins: SCU (59-52, N); at UNLV (73-68, A); vs. USU (61-54, H)
Six Mountain West teams are currently in the Top 75 of the NCAA's NET rankings.

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.

OPPONENT PREVIEW & SERIES OVERVIEW

Fresno State leads the all-time series with Air Force, 24-8 (overall), which includes a 10-4 all-time road record against the Falcons.
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).
This is the third straight meeting between the programs played at Clune Arena. The Bulldogs and Falcons were originally scheduled to meet on Jan. 1, but the game was postponed due to health and safety protocols.

"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.

Bulldogs fly to face Falcons

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Bulldogs fly to face Falcons

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