FRESNO STATE (3-6) at BYU (6-2)
Dec. 11, 2024 • 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT • Provo, Utah (Marriott Center)
MEDIA COVERAGE
ESPN+
PxP: Dave McCann • Analyst: Blaine Fowler
Bulldog Sports Network
PxP: Paul Loeffler • Analyst: Marc Q. Jones • Sideline: Taylor Martinez
Stream: ESPN+
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
FRESNO, Calif. — A year after facing BYU on a neutral court in Salt Lake City, Utah, Fresno State will travel to Provo to play the Cougars on their home court at the Marriott Center on Wednesday night. It will be the Bulldogs' seventh game away from home during the last 29 days.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT with the contest streaming live on ESPN+.
QUICK LOOK
Wednesday will be the last road trip for Fresno State until Dec. 28.
In the Mountain West, only San Jose State will have played as many nonconference games away from home as the Bulldogs through Dec. 11 (7). Like the 'Dogs, the Spartans will also have played just three home games during that span.
Fresno State will play its final two nonconference games at home during the next week-and-a-half (San Diego, Cal Baptist).
The Bulldogs head into Provo on a four-game skid with its last win coming at Long Beach State on Nov. 23.
Prior to the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Desert, Calif., the Bulldogs pulled off the 26th-largest comeback in the final five minutes of a game in Division I history (11) in their win at Long Beach State.
It was one of seven times the 'Dogs have trailed by double-digits in the final minutes. They have outscored their opponent down the stretch in four of those.
Fresno State is the only program to have two players rank in the Top 50 nationally in offensive rebounds. Mor Seck (3.25) and Elijah Price (3.22) are 39th and 41st.
Zaon Collins leads the Bulldogs in points (14.6), assists (3.4), steals (2.4) per game and is third in rebounding (5.0).
Amar Augillard is second in scoring at 14.4 points per game. He has scored 20-plus points four times.
Vance Walberg's high-tempo style has the Bulldogs ranked second in the nation in adjusted tempo, averaging 74.7 possessions per 40 minutes.
Walberg is one of four current Division I head coaches who was a high school head coach the season before taking over their current head coaching position (Penny Hardaway, Bucky McMillan, Stan Waterman).
GETTING UP AND DOWN
Expected coming into the season, Vance Walberg's high tempo style has resulted in the Bulldogs' averaging the second-most possessions per 40 minutes in the country at 74.7. Fresno State is one of only three teams averaging more than 74 along with conference mate New Mexico who is at 74.8.
During the past four seasons, Fresno State has averaged between 61.8 and 65.8 possessions per 40 minutes.
Fresno State has not averaged more than 70 possessions per 40 minutes in a season since 2001-02. That season the Bulldogs ranked No. 32 in adjusted tempo at 72.4.
GET TO THE RACK
A product of Vance Walberg's system is getting to the free-throw line, set up by constant drives to the bucket. The Bulldogs have used that to their advantage, attempting 24.4 free throws per game which ranks 42nd nationally and second in the MW.
Fresno State has attempted 7.3 more free throws per game than its opponents.
Against Sacramento State, the 'Dogs were +17 in free throw attempts. At Long Beach State, they held a +40 differential in attempts. Both games resulted in single-digit wins for the Bulldogs as they overcame shooting below 35% from the field.
TAKING THE REINS
Zaon Collins has been everything the Bulldogs expected. The former Top-50 recruit leads the team in points (14.6), assists (3.4), steals (2.4) per game and is third in rebounding (5.0). Collins has four games with at least 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Collins has been in double figures in all seven games he's played in, averaging 14.6 points per game.
He leads the MW in steals per game, swiping 2.43 per game, 31st in the NCAA.
CRASHING ON OFFENSE
Ranking fourth in the Mountain West in offensive rebounds, top two interior players are pacing the conference in O-boards. 7-foot-1 center Mor Seck is second in the conference at 3.25 per game, 39th in the NCAA. Elijah Price is right behind with 3.22 per game, 41st nationally.
Fresno State is the only team in the country with two players in the Top 50 in offensive rebounds per game.
Fresno State is averaging 12.3 second-chance points per game, and has scored at least 20 in two wins.