Bulldogs head over Pacheco Pass to face Spartans

Tuesday, January 10

San Jose, Calif.

7 p.m. PT

Fresno State

San Jose State

Bulldogs head over Pacheco Pass to face Spartans

1/9/2023 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes: Fresno State at San Jose State (PDF)

By: Stephen Trembley / Director of Strategic Communications

Game 16: Fresno State (6-9, 2-2 MW) at San Jose State (11-6, 2-2 MW)
Jan. 10, 2023 • 7 p.m. PT • San Jose, Calif. • Provident Credit Union Event Center
TV/ONLINE: NBC Sports Bay Area/MWN (Justin Allegri & Kylen Mills)
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler & Marc Q. Jones)
SERIES HISTORY: Fresno State leads 95-77 (overall) • SJSU leads 41-35 (in SJ)
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 69, San Jose State 67 [OT] (3/9/22 • Las Vegas)
UP NEXT: vs. Air Force (Jan. 14), vs. UNLV (Jan. 21)

THE BREAKDOWN

Fresno State entered the 2022-23 season bringing back eight returners, which includes four seniors in Jemarl Baker, Jordan Campbell, Anthony Holland and Isaiah Hill along with juniors Destin Whitaker, Donavan Yap and Leo Colimerio and sophomore Steven Vasquez.
Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson is in his fifth season back home in the Central Valley.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 23-win campaign in 2021-22 and a postseason title after winning The Basketball Classic, presented by ERACISM, in April - two 23-win seasons (2018-19 and 2021-22).
Seven new players have joined the program: guards Jordan Brinson (Salt Lake CC), Alexander Gorton (Palm Beach Atlantic), Joseph Hunter (San Joaquin Memorial HS) and Jeff Sims (Santa Rosa Academy) along with forward Isaih Moore (Southern Miss) and centers Chuks Isitua (IUPUI) and Eduardo Andre (Nebraska).
Two Bulldogs - Moore (12.7 PPG) and Baker (11.9 PPG) - are averaging double-digits in scoring this season.

OPENING TIP

Fresno State visits the San Jose State Spartans on Tuesday at 7 p.m. PT at Provident Credit Union Event Center.
The game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area (television), Mountain West Network (stream) and the Bulldog Sports Network (radio).
Fresno State enters Tuesday's game tied for fifth in the Mountain West with a 2-2 record in conference play.
Fresno State enters Tuesday's game second in the MW in scoring defense (63.0 points per game allowed).
Fresno State earned its first win over an Associated Press Top 25 opponent since 2002 when the Bulldogs handed then-No. 21/22 New Mexico 71-67 its first loss of the season on Jan. 3 at the Save Mart Center.
Fresno State's first six Division I nonconference opponents were all Top 125 KenPom teams.
Through games played on Jan. 8, nine Mountain West programs were rated in the Top 130 nationally in strength of schedule. San Diego State leads the MW at 15th nationally, while Fresno State is second (59th).

SERIES HISTORY: FRESNO STATE VS. SAN JOSE STATE

Fresno State leads its all-time series with San Jose State, 95-77 (overall), which includes 11 straight wins over the Spartans (9-0 in Hutson's first four seasons) and victories in 16 of the last 18 meetings.
While SJSU has a 41-35 edge in the series in games played in Northern California, Fresno State has won its last four road contests played against the Spartans.
Last season, Fresno State defeated San Jose State 79-59 at the Save Mart Center on Jan. 11, 2022, and then routed the Spartans 73-43 at the Provident Credit Union Event Center on Feb. 1, 2022. The two teams then met in the first round of the 2022 MW Tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, with the Bulldogs prevailing 69-67 over SJSU in overtime to advance to the MW quarterfinals.

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 10 seasons in the Mountain West, which includes six first round byes in the MW Tournament. In the last seven MW campaigns, the 'Dogs won an average of 10.3 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 (9.7) in Hutson's first four seasons as the Bulldogs' head coach.

FRESNO STATE PRODUCING NBA DRAFT LOTTERY PICKS, PROS
In the last 23 seasons, Fresno State has produced three NBA Lottery picks - Paul George (No. 10 overall in 2010), Melvin Ely (No. 12 overall in 2002) and Courtney Alexander (No. 13 overall in 2000) - while UNLV has two and San Diego State has one in that same 22-season span. Overall, Fresno State has had 32 players go on to play in the NBA, including 21 being selected in the NBA Draft with five first-round picks (four since 2000). Paul George current plays for the Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando Robinson plays for the Miami Heat.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
"I come from a family of educators. My father was a teacher. My aunt was a teacher. Academics are very important to me. It's in my DNA." - Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson

Fresno State was rewarded for a second straight season with the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award (team GPA 3.0 or higher) with Baker and former Bulldog Orlando Robinson being named to the 2021-22 NABC Honors Court (GPA 3.2 or higher).
Eight Bulldogs were named Academic All-Mountain West with Baker earning MW Scholar-Athlete honors.
In the last four seasons (Hutson's tenure), Fresno State has had 22 Academic All-MW selections.

"Fresno State Athletics - For The V: The Central Valley" – Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, and staff proudly wear the "Green V" to show their pride in representing the Central Valley. Stories of why the Bulldogs play for the "Green V" will be shared throughout the next year with #ForTheV. To become a Bulldog Foundation member or join "The Green V Society," please call 559-278-7160 or visit bulldogfoundation.org.

Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateMBB
Instagram: fresnostatembb
Facebook: FresnoStateMBB