FRESNO STATE (1-0) AT KENT STATE (1-1)
Nov. 11, 2023 | 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | ESPN+ | Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center | Kent, Ohio
MEDIA COVERAGE
Radio - Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
Play-by-Play - Matt Norville
Analyst - Marc Q. Jones
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: SidearmStats
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno State takes to the road in Game No. 2 of the season, traveling more than 2,000 miles to face Kent State in Kent, Ohio. Tipoff from the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center is slated for 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
This is just the second time Fresno State and Kent State have ever met. Fresno State won the lone contest 56-35 in Fresno on Dec. 23, 1983.
HILL IN THE RECORD BOOK
Isaiah Hill, who started his collegiate career at Tulsa, moved into the Top 50 of Fresno State's all-time scoring list last season and is the 47th men's basketball player to score at least 900 points as a Bulldog.
Hill entered the 2023-24 season ranked 44th all-time in program history with 962 career points at Fresno State. Following his 10 points against Fresno Pacific in the season opener, he has moved up to No. 40, passing Cezar Guerrero.
His 972 points is two shy of Paul George at No. 39.
TOWER FROM LONDON
A cornerstone for the Bulldogs after his first season in Fresno, Eduardo Andre picked up right where he left off last season. Game 1 saw the 6-foot-11 forward put up 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocks against Fresno Pacific.
Andre started the final 15 games in 2022-23, averaging 10.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, 2.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.6 blocks above his overall season averages.
Five of his six double-doubles came in those final 15 games.
BRINGING THE THREES
In his Bulldog debut, Xavier DuSell gave Fresno State fans a taste of what's to come from the marksman. The Wyoming transfer knocked down 4-of-7 from outside and led the 'Dogs with 19 points .
DuSell was also a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe.
WE HAVE MORE TIME
While it may look like the Bulldogs have six players who will be out of eligibility after this season, four of their seniors will have an extra year available as their first year in college was 2020-21 allowing them to receive the covid year. Those seniors are Eduardo Andre, Leo Colimerio, Xavier DuSell and Donovan Yap Jr, key pieces to what the 'Dogs are building.
The two fifth-year seniors who will be out of eligibility are Isaiah Hill and newcomer Isaiah Pope.
AN INFLUX OF TALENT
During the offseason, Fresno State made plenty of changes to its roster. The Bulldogs hit the recruiting trail hard bringing in eight new additions for the 2023-24 season.
Fresno State found four players in the portal in D-I transfers Xavier DuSell (Wyoming), Isaiah Pope (Utah Tech), Enoch Boakye (Arizona State) and Pierre Geneste Jr. (La Tech).
The 'Dogs added two players from the junior college ranks in Jalen Weaver (Salt Lake CC) and Chase Courtney (San Diego City College) who each have experience at the D-I level.
The last two additions were freshman Isaac Taveras (North Florida Educational Institute from Santo Domingo, DR) and Zaylon Thomas, a former track and field athlete from UCLA.
VETERAN LADEN
With all of the changes to the Fresno State roster, it's easy to think that the Bulldogs are young. Twelve of the 15 players on the roster though are upperclassmen.
Ten players have at least two years of college basketball experience at the D-I level.
The Bulldogs have two fifth-year seniors in Isaiah Hill and Isaiah Pope.
The underclassmen on the roster include true freshman Isaac Taveras, redshirt freshman Jeff Sims Jr. and sophomore transfer Pierre Geneste Jr.