FRESNO STATE (3-3) VS. NO. 19 BYU (6-0)
Dec. 1, 2023 | 7 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. PT | Big 12 Now on ESPN+ | Delta Center | Salt Lake City, Utah
MEDIA COVERAGE
Stream - Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Play-by-Play - Eric Rothman
Analyst - Corey Williams
Radio - Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
Play-by-Play - Paul Loeffler
Analyst - Marc Q. Jones
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno State hits the road for a neutral site matchup on Friday night in Salt Lake City, Utah with No. 19 BYU before a four-game home stretch. Tipoff from the Delta Center, home the Utah Jazz, is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT.
QUICK LOOK
After taking two trips of more than 4,000 miles each in the first month, this week's trip to Salt Lake City will feel much different for the 'Dogs.
The Bulldogs are 1-1 in neutral court games this year, picking up a over New Mexico State and a defeat to No. 22 James Madison last week at the Cancun Challenge.
Senior guards Isaiah Hill and Donavan Yap Jr. lead the Bulldogs' offense at 15.0 and 12.3 points per game. Hill ranks No. 11 in scoring in the Mountain West.
Last week, the two were selected to the Riviera Division All-Tournament Team. With two 20-point games, the first two of his career, Yap Jr. averaged a team-high 17.3 points per game while Hill was just behind him at 16.7 ppg.
With seven newcomers to the squad, that group has stepped in quickly to help complement the returners in the scoring column. Newcomers have accounted for 42.4 percent of the scoring thus far.
Three of the Bulldogs' top six scorers are newcomers.
The 'Dogs rank No. 4 in the MW in rebounding margin (+3.7) with Enoch Boakye third in the league getting 8.5 rpg.
70 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
70 points. Through six games, 70 has been the number that the Bulldogs' offense is looking for. All three of Fresno State's wins have come when scoring more than 70 points. When they don't hit that mark, it has resulted in a loss for the 'Dogs.
HITTING THE BOARDS
After getting outrebounded in its season opener, Fresno State has responded. In the last five games, the Bulldogs have outrebounded each of its opponents with a +5.8 differential on the glass.
Fresno State ranks No. 4 in the Mountain West in rebounding margin at +3.7.
Junior Enoch Boakye has led the 'Dogs in rebounding in four of the team's six contests.
FLOOR GENERAL
Through six games, Isaiah Hill has dished out 38 assists. His eight assists in the season opener against Fresno Pacific were tied for the second-most in a game in his Bulldog career. He matched that on Monday against UCSB.
In his last eight games, Hill has recorded 60 assists.
Hill has 18 games at Fresno State with at least six assists.
In 94 games as a Bulldog, Hill ranks eighth in career assists, moving up three spots this season.
While Hill sits No. 4 in the Mountain West this season with 6.3 assists per game, he can also score, putting up 15.0 points per game,
CLEANING THE GLASS
At 6-foot-11, 250-pound, Enoch Boakye has begun to impose his presence inside on the glass. During the last two games, the junior has pulled down career highs in rebounds, first grabbing 13 against James Madison before following with 16 versus UC Santa Barbara. The 29 rebounds came after a total of 22 in his first four games as a 'Dog.
Boayke's 16 against the Gauchos 16 was three shy of Nate Grimes' single-game Save Mart Center record from Feb. 2, 2019.
Boakye ranks No. 3 in the Mountain West at 8.5 rebounds per game.
REPS PAYING OFF
Averaging 12.3 points per game, Donavan Yap Jr. has taken a big step forward offensively. The senior has not only doubled his scoring average, but all three of his shooting percentages have increased from Year 3 to Year 4.
Yap Jr. has gone from 38.6 to 44.2 percent from the field, 27.0 to 45.0 percent from the 3 and 76.3 to 95.0 percent from the free throw line.