2025-26 campaign tips off against Sunbirds

GAME 1: FRESNO STATE (0-0, 0-0 MW) vs. FRESNO PACIFIC (0-0, 0-0 PAC WEST)
November 3, 2025 | 7:30 p.m. PT | Fresno, Calif. | Save Mart Center

MEDIA COVERAGE
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Watch: Mountain West Network
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network
Play by Play: Paul Loeffler | Analyst: Marc Q. Jones | Sideline: Taylor Martinez

FOLLOW ALONG ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateMBB
Instagram: @FresnoStateMBB
TikTok: @FresnoStateMBBall

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State men's basketball team opens its 2025-26 season on Monday night with a cross-town rivalry matchup against Fresno Pacific.

The Bulldogs' and Sunbirds' women's and men's programs are set to tip off the basketball season with a doubleheader at the Save Mart Center. The women's game begins at 5 p.m., followed by the men's game at approximately 7:30 p.m. PT.

BULLDOG BONES

Head Coach Vance Walberg is entering his second season at the helm of the Bulldog Basketball program and his fourth season as a head coach overall.
The Bulldogs are 6-26 in the Walberg Era, with a total of two conference wins, against Air Force and Wyoming.
Fresno State will start the 2025-26 campaign with seven straight home games, all played at the Save Mart Center.
This is the first time in program history that the Bulldogs have a seven-game home stand to start the season.
The Fresno State men's basketball team is going to look a little different this season, with 73% of the roster being newcomers to the squad.
Fresno State returns only four athletes this season: Troy Jenkins, Makhan Diouf, Zaon Collins and David "DJ" Douglas, Jr.
Of the four, Collins is the Bulldogs' only returning starter and letterwinner.
DJ Douglas, a transfer from Green Bay, played in six games for the Bulldogs in 2024-25 before his season was cut short due to injury.
Troy Jenkins and Makhan Diouf both redshirted for the 2024-25 season and did not see game action.

A BRIEF HISTORY WITH THE 'BIRDS

Fresno State is set for its fifth-ever game against city-rival Fresno Pacific.
The Bulldogs are 4-0 against Fresno Pacific, dating back to 2020 when the teams first faced each other in an official capacity.
Fresno State has defeated the Sunbirds by at least 11 points in all four previous matchups, with the most recent game marking the start of the 2023 season.

FRESH START

Fresno State welcomes 11 newcomers to the roster this season: three transfers and 8 eight freshmen.
Cameron Faas, Jake Heidbreder and Jac Mani all transferred from NCAA DI basketball programs.
Of the eight freshmen, seven are international students.

WELCOME (BACK) TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST

Transfers Jake Heidbreder is on his third stop in his college career.
Heidbreder started his career at Air Force, where he spent the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
He then transferred to Clemson after his second year at Air Force, redshirted for the 2023-24 season and returned to the court for the 2024-25 season.
Heidbreder returns to the Mountain West for his final year of eligibility at Fresno State.

ONE LAST RIDE

The Bulldogs are entering their final season in the Mountain West before transitioning to the Pac-12.
Fresno State will be joined by current Mountain West members Boise State, Utah State, Colorado State and San Diego State.
The new Pac-12 will also include Gonzaga, Oregon State, Washington State and Texas State.

CERTIFIED BUCKET

Fresno State incoming transfer Jake Heidbreder is something of legend at the three-point line.
Heidbreder went 98 for 100 at the three-point line this week in practice.
The senior made 78 three-pointers in a row before he had to leave the gym.
(I promise this is true, SID's honor.)

VALLEY ROOTS RUN DEEP

When Vance Walberg was named the Bulldogs' head coach, he emphasized the community, doing things for the Central Valley because Fresno State is the Central Valley's team. That message resonates with not just Walberg but also within his staff. Of the program's six coaches, five have previously lived in the Central Valley.
Walberg has spent more than 20 years coaching in the Valley at Clovis West HS and Fresno City College.
John Welch was a member of Jerry Tarkanian's staff at Fresno State from 1995-2002.
Ray Barefield grew up in Fresno and prepped down the street from campus at Hoover HS, graduating in 1989. He is in the school's Hall of Fame.
Chris Stahowski played for and coached alongside Walberg. He also graduated from Fresno State in 2007.
Tory Stamps grew up in Fresno and played at Central HS, graduating in 2012.

Fresno State Athletics

Players Mentioned

Zaon Collins

Makhan Diouf

Cameron Faas

Jake Heidbreder

Troy Jenkins

Jac Mani

2025-26 campaign tips off against Sunbirds

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