Game 31: Fresno State (10-20, 3-14 MW) vs. New Mexico (19-11, 11-6 MW)
Feb. 28, 2023 • 6 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. • Save Mart Center
TV/ONLINE:Mountain West Network (PxP: Matt Norville / Sideline: Taylor Martinez)
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network (PxP: Matt Norville / Sideline: Taylor Martinez)
LIVE:BulldogsLive.com
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 71-70 in Fresno, Calif. on Feb. 23, 2022
SERIES HISTORY: Series tied at 16-16
BULLDOG BONES
For the first time this season, Fresno State will meet New Mexico, hosting the Lobos in the final game of the regular season.
The Bulldogs have won their last three home games against UNM with all three being within seven points or less.
Dating back to 2019, the 'Dogs are 6-2 against the Lobos with seven of the eight games being decided by seven points or less.
Prior to Tuesday night's tipoff, Fresno State will honor its five-member senior class of Amiee Book, Maria Guimaraes, Imani Lacy, Yanina Todorova and Amaya West.
Regardless of Tuesday's outcomes, the Bulldogs will be the No. 9 seed in the Mountain West tournament and face the No. 8 seed Nevada.
The 'Dogs own the third-best defense in the Mountain West, allowing 60.2 points per game.
Of the Bulldogs' 17 conference games, 12 have been decided by 10 points or less, the most of any team in the league.
On Feb. 18, Amaya West became the second Bulldog this season to reach 1,000 points in their career. A game later, West scored a career-high 25 points at San Jose State.
The fifth-year senior is one of three players in the Mountain West to rank in the Top 12 in scoring (4th), rebounding (12th).
THE SENIORS
Amiee Book (New Zealand - CSU Fullerton). Maria Guimaraes (Brazil - Odessa CC). Imani Lacy (Fresno - Long Beach State/Nevada). Yanina Todorova (Bulgaria - Odessa College). Amaya West ( Mesa - Nevada). While they may have come from right in our backyard or from across the world, from D-I schools within 225 miles of Fresno to a junior college in the plains of West Texas, they all became Bulldogs. Whether for three years or just one, they are Bulldogs.
The five-member class has logged a combined 5,057 minutes for Fresno State.
KEEPING 'EM CLOSE
If you like close games, odds are good that you'll see one with the Bulldogs. 17 of Fresno State's 30 games have been nail-biters with the difference being six points or less. Unfortunately, the 'Dogs are 4-12 in such games. In all four wins, the Bulldogs have won by 3-5 points.
Fresno State has missed a go-ahead attempt at the buzzer four times (Cal Poly, Sacramento State, UNLV, Wyoming) and missed a third that would have tied a game (CSU Bakersfield).
The Bulldogs held off late rallies from Delaware, Northern Arizona and Utah Valley, not allowing a fourth-quarter lead change.
RIGHT THERE
Ten of the Bulldogs' 14 losses in Mountain West play have been by seven points or less with one or two possessions late in games determining the outcome.
Of the Bulldogs' 17 conference games, 12 have been decided by 10 points or less, the most of any team in the league.
START FAST
The first quarter this season has been telling for the Bulldogs. In nine of Fresno State's 10 wins, the 'Dogs have led after the first quarter. Four of those have seen the Bulldogs with a double-digit lead after 10 minutes.
Fresno State is 9-4 when leading after the first quarter.
THE COMEBACK
Until Feb. 18 against Nevada, Fresno State had been 0-15 this season when it trailed after the opening quarter. One step further, the 'Dogs hadn't won a game when they trailed at the end of any period. The Wolf Pack led by 9, 8 and 11 at the end of the first three quarters before the 'Dogs outscored 26-12 in the fourth to earn their first come-from-behind win of the season.
Fresno State trailed by as much as 15 midway through the third.
The Bulldogs led for just 90 seconds.
REACHING 1K
Against her former team on Feb. 18, Amaya West surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career. The fifth-year senior passed it on a 3-pointer to tie the game as she helped the Bulldogs overcome a 15-point second-half deficit to defeat Nevada.
In all five seasons of her career, West has increased her point production (93, 136, 186, 222, 361).
West is the 30th player in Fresno State history to score their 1,000th career point as a member of the Bulldogs.
She is the ninth player to score their 1,000th career point as a Bulldog under Jaime White.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO
The Lobos head into their regular season finale on Tuesday in Fresno with a 19-11 overall record and an 11-6 mark in the Mountain West
New Mexico is currently in a four-way tie for third in the MW with San Diego State, Colorado State and Boise State.
UNM is coming off a 111-55 win over Utah State on Saturday and has won five straight games.
The Lobos are 5-7 on the road with MW road wins at Utah State, Nevada and Air Force.
New Mexico leads the MW and ranks 17th nationally in three pointers per game (8.5). The Lobos are second in the MW in assists (15.0), scoring offense (74.3) and three point percentage defense (28.4 percent).
Senior guard LaTascya Duff leads the MW in three pointers per game (2.83) and three pointers (82). Senior forward Shaiquel McGruder ranks second in the MW in blocks (60) and third in field goal percentage (56.2 percent).