FRESNO STATE (8-9, 1-3 MW) AT NO. 16/17 UTAH STATE (16-2, 4-1 MW)
Jan. 20, 2024 | 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT | MWN | Dee Glen Smith Spectrum | Logan, Utah
MEDIA COVERAGE
Stream: Mountain West Network
Radio: Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
Play-by-Play: Paul Loeffler
Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
Tickets: Bulldog Ticket Office
FRESNO, Calif. — Coming off its first Mountain West win of the season on a buzzer-beater against San Jose State, Fresno State travels to No. 16/17 Utah State on Saturday.
Tipoff at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum is scheduled for 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT and will stream live on the Mountain West Network.
QUICK LOOK
The Aggies are the Bulldogs' third ranked opponent this season, and the highest of the highest of the three. The 'Dogs faced the previous two on neutral courts (JMU - Cancun, BYU - Salt Lake City).
During Fresno State's 85-82 win over San Jose State, the Bulldogs were led by acting head coach Keith Brown who filled in during the absence of head coach Justin Hutson (illness). It was Brown's second game in the role during the past two seasons (2-0).
Since returning from the holiday break, Isaiah Pope has led the Bulldogs offensively, averaging 12.8 points per game during the last five contests. The senior has recorded double figures in each of the last three games.
Coming off a season-high 24 points against SJSU, Isaiah Hill continues to lead Fresno State in scoring (12.9 ppg) and assists (5.6 apg) on the year. The point guard ranks No. 27 nationally in assists per game, sixth in the MW.
Transfer Xavier DuSell is second on the team in scoring at 10.0 points per game. The senior leads the 'Dogs in 3-point percentage, connecting at 41.3 percent clip (43-of-104). He sits third in the MW in 3-pointers made per game (2.53) and is tops in 3-point percentage. The sharpshooter ranks No. 36 in the NCAA in 3-point percentage.
Enoch Boakye (8.0) ranks No. 2 in the MW in rebounding per game and is No. 2 in defensive boards (5.7).
With seven newcomers to the squad, that group has stepped in quickly to help complement the returners in the scoring column. Newcomers have accounted for 50.7 percent of the scoring thus far.
Fresno State ranks third in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (47.4%) and fourth in fast break points (11.6).
Depth has come in handy thus far as the Bulldogs' bench is averaging 22.2 points per game, second in the MW. The bench has accounted for 30 or more points in four contests.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State is 24-43 all-time against Utah State.
The Bulldogs have won just eight times in Logan, Utah in 31 meetings.
The 'Dogs have one win in their last five trips to Logan, a 78-77 contest on Jan. 9, 2019.
AT THE BUZZER
Fresno State hadn't seen a buzzer-beater to end a game since 2019. This season, the Bulldogs have seen three games end with a shot going through the net in the final second.
Isaiah Hill's 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat San Jose State was the Bulldogs' first buzzer-beater since Mustafa Lawrence against Winthrop on Nov. 10, 2019.
A rare feat, Fresno State's last two games were decided on buzzer-beaters (loss at Wyoming, win vs. San Jose State)
Prior to this season, Fresno State had not lost on a buzzer-beater since 2012. The Bulldogs have dropped two games this year at the buzzer (Portland State, at Wyoming).
THEY WEREN'T CLOSE TO START
Whether at home or on the road, Fresno State games for the most part haven't been close. 10 of the Bulldogs' 17 games have been separated by double digits. That trend has begun to change in the last month.
Fresno State is 4-3 in games separated by five points or less. Five of those have come in the last eight games.
Five games have been separated by more than 20 points (2-3).
STEPPING IN
On Tuesday, Assistant Coach Keith Brown stepped in as Fresno State's acting head coach after Head Coach Justin Hutson was unable to attend the game due to illness. It was the second time in the past two seasons that Brown has stepped into the role for Hutson.
Brown is 2-0 as the Bulldogs' acting head coach with wins over UC Irvine and San Jose State. The 'Dogs shot over 50 percent from the field in both games, averaging 82.5 points per game.