FRESNO STATE (3-2) VS. WASHINGTON STATE (5-1)
Nov. 26, 2024 • 9 p.m. PT • Palm Desert, Calif. (Acrisure Arena)
FRESNO STATE (3-2) VS. SMU (4-2)/CAL BAPTIST (4-2)
Nov. 27, 2024 • 6:30/9 p.m. PT • Palm Desert, Calif. (Acrisure Arena)
MEDIA COVERAGE
truTV/MAX
PxP: Chris Sylvester • Analyst: Steve Smith • Sideline: Nkwa Asonye
Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
PxP: Paul Loeffler • Analyst: Marc Q. Jones
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
FRESNO, Calif. — After pulling off a double-digit comeback on Saturday, Fresno State will remain on the road this week to compete in the Acrisure Holiday Invitational at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Bulldogs open play against Washington State. Fresno State will play either SMU or Cal Baptist the following day.
Both games will broadcast on truTV/MAX with Chris Sylvester, Steve Smith and Nkwa Asonye on the call. Tuesday's game will tipoff at 9 p.m. PT.
QUICK LOOK
This week will mark the Bulldogs' fifth and sixth games outside of Fresno this season. The 'Dogs will play seven of their first 10 games away from the Save Mart Center during the first 36 days of the season.
The Bulldogs are 3-2 on the year after picking up its first win away from home over the weekend in what was the 26th-largest comeback in the final five minutes of a game in Division I history (11).
After averaging 11.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in two games last week, redshirt freshman Elijah Price was named Mountain West Freshman of the Week on Monday.
Mor Seck (4.5) and Price (3.8) are sixth and 18th in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game.
It took Vance Walberg just one game into his Fresno State career to earn his first win as the Bulldogs' head coach, defeating Sacramento State 64-57 on Nov. 8. It was 216 days between his hiring and his first win.
THE COMEBACK
On Nov. 23, shooting below 20% in the first half, and trailing by as much as 17, Fresno State was forced to battle back on the road at Long Beach State. The Bulldogs trailed by 11 with under three minutes left to play. They closed the game on a 14-0 run to win 72-69, scoring on their final seven possessions while turning over LBSU four times.
It is tied for the 26th-largest comeback in the last 5 minutes (11) in Division I history.
Fresno State was missing three starters and played the game with only nine available players.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Elijah Price was named Mountain West Men's Basketball Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced Monday morning. Price averaged 11.0 points and 11.0 rebounds last week, helping the Bulldogs to a pair of wins over Prairie View A&M and Long Beach State.
Against Prairie View A&M, Price recorded the first double-double of his career with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Both totals were season highs for the redshirt freshman.
Price is the first Bulldog to earn MW Freshman of the Week honors since the conference began the weekly award for the 2021-22 season. He is the first Fresno State player to earn a weekly award from the conference since Orlando Robinson on Jan. 17, 2022.
CALLED INTO A NEW ROLE
With Zaon Collins sidelined the past two games, 6-foot-7 wing Mykell Robinson has taken over the point guard duties. The redshirt junior thrived in the role, averaging 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 37.1 minutes per game.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE TRIO
Through three games, Fresno State hadn't had a player record a double-double. That changed when the team saw three in Game 4 against Prairie View A&M. Fresno State's bigs Mor Seck (18 points, 12 rebounds) and Elijah Price (16 points, 13 rebounds) controlled the interior to get their firsts of the season. Mykell Robinson posted the first of his career with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while narrowly missing a triple-double with eight assists as he split point guard duties.
Seck's double-double was the third of career, first since March 2, 2023 while with Hawai'i. His 18 points was a career high, besting the 16 he had a game prior to his last double-double.
CRASHING ON OFFENSE
Ranking fourth in the Mountain West in offensive rebounds, top two interior players are pacing the conference in O-boards. Three games back from a lengthy rehab, 7-foot-1 center Mor Seck is grabbing a league-best 4.50 per game, sixth in the NCAA. Elijah Price is second in the MW, 18th nationally, at 3.80 per game.
Fresno State is the only team in the country with two players in the Top 20 in offensive rebounds per game.
Fresno State is averaging 14.8 second-chance points per game, and has scored at least 20 in two wins.