Game 18: UNLV (12-6, 1-5 MW) at Fresno State (6-11, 2-4 MW)
Jan. 21, 2023 • 3 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. • Save Mart Center
TV: CBS Sports Network (Chick Hernandez & Steve Wolf)
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler & Marc Q. Jones)
SERIES HISTORY: UNLV leads 34-17 (overall) & 11-8 (games in Fresno, Calif.)
LAST MEETING: UNLV 60, Fresno State 57 (2/16/22 • Save Mart Center)
UP NEXT: at Boise State (Jan. 24); vs. Utah State (Jan. 28)
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 (12.1 PPG) and Baker (11.9 PPG) - are averaging double-digits in scoring this season.
OPENING TIP
Fresno State hosts the UNLV Runnin' Rebels on Saturday at 3 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center.
The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network (television) and the Bulldog Sports Network (radio).
The Bulldog Baby Race, presented by Plum Organics, will take place at halftime.
Fresno State is currently in eighth place in the MW with a 2-4 record in conference play.
Fresno State is second in the MW in scoring defense (62.94 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.
Fresno State's rotation has been limited due to injury or illness (nine players were available for its last game).
Fresno State enters Saturday having made 74.6 percent of its free throws (173-232), which if the percentage holds through the end of the season would set a new school record (74.2 percent, 484-652, 1991-92).
Through games played on Jan. 19, eight Mountain West programs were rated in the Top 100 nationally in strength of schedule. San Diego State leads the MW at 20th nationally, while Fresno State is seventh (73rd).
SERIES HISTORY: FRESNO STATE VS. UNLV
Fresno State trails its all-time series with UNLV, 17-34 (overall). However, the Bulldogs have won nine of the last 13 meetings in the series - splitting the season series in each of the past two seasons.
Fresno State owns a 4-3 advantage over UNLV in games played at the Save Mart Center.
Each of the last six games in the series have been decided by two possessions or less (all five points or fewer).
Five of the last six games in the series have been decided by one possession (three points or fewer).
Three of the last six games in the series have been decided by a single point (all three of those won by UNLV).
NOTHING BUT NET
Fresno State ranked No. 77 in the final 2021-22 NCAA Men's Basketball NET Rankings (April 4, 2022), but the Bulldogs were No. 73 on Selection Sunday, which made their all of their home games count as Quad 1 contests, and neutral site and road games as Quad 2 for their opponents.
Last season, the Bulldogs ranked as high No. 45 nationally in the NET entering MW play (Dec. 27, 2021).
Fresno State had checked in at No. 93 in the first release of the 2021-22 season (Dec. 5, 2021).
In 2022-23, Fresno State has played three nonconference games against teams ranked in the Top 75 of the NET at the end of last season (San Francisco [26], North Texas [55] and Vanderbilt [62]).
Fresno State checked in at No. 196 in the first release of the 2022-23 season (Dec. 5, 2022).
Through games played on Jan. 1, 2022, Fresno State had played two games against Quad 1 opponents (both road games: at North Texas, at Utah State).
The NCAA's NET rankings assist the NCAA Tournament selection committee seed and select at-large bids.
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.