FRESNO STATE (4-4) VS. PACIFIC (4-6)
Dec. 9, 2023 | 4 p.m. PT | MWN | Save Mart Center | Fresno, Calif.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Stream - Mountain West Network / Radio - Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
Play-by-Play - Paul Loeffler
Analyst - Marc Q. Jones
Sideline - Taylor Martinez
Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
Tickets: Bulldog Ticket Office
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno State will play its second of four straight games at the Save Mart Center when it hosts Pacific on Saturday afternoon. Until this weekend's contest, the Bulldogs haven't played more than one game consecutively at home this season.
Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. PT and will stream live on the Mountain West Network.
QUICK LOOK
Fresno State is 3-1 on its home court this season.
The Bulldogs have not allowed an opponent to score 70 points at the Save Mart Center this year.
Three of the Bulldogs' eight games have come on neutral courts with the 'Dogs going 1-2 with a win over New Mexico State and defeats to No. 19 BYU and No. 22 James Madison.
Senior Isaiah Hill has done the heavy lifting for Fresno State thus far, leading the team in scoring (14.1 ppg) and assists (5.9 apg). Whereas the point guard ranks No. 15 in the Mountain West in scoring, he ranks 23rd nationally in assists per game, fourth in the MW.
Donavan Yap Jr. is second on the team in scoring at 10.5 points per game. The senior leads the 'Dogs in 3-point percentage, connecting at a 47.8 percent clip (11-of-23).
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 43.9 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 (+2.6) with Enoch Boakye fourth in the league getting 7.5 rpg.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State and Pacific will meet for the 160th time in their history on Saturday.
Prior to a defeat last season in Stockton, the Bulldogs had won three straight in the series with two of those coming in overtime.
70 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
70 points. Through eight games, 70 has been the number that the Bulldogs' offense is looking for. All four 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. The Bulldogs have outrebounded six of its eight opponents.
Fresno State ranks No. 4 in the Mountain West in rebounding margin at +2.6.
FLOOR GENERAL
Through eight games, Isaiah Hill has dished out 47 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 last week against UCSB.
In his last nine games, Hill has recorded 69 assists.
Hill has 18 games at Fresno State with at least six assists.
In 96 games as a Bulldog, Hill ranks seventh in career assists, moving up four spots this season.
While Hill sits No. 4 in the Mountain West, and No. 23 in the NCAA, this season with 5.9 assists per game, he can also score, putting up 14.1 points per game, 15th-most in the MW.
CLEANING THE GLASS
At 6-foot-11, 250-pound, Enoch Boakye has begun to impose his presence inside on the glass. The junior has pulled down double digit rebound totals in recent weeks, 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. 4 in the Mountain West at 7.5 rebounds per game.
NO YAPPING AT THE LINE
Donavan Yap Jr. has been all business at the free throw line this year, blocking everything out. The senior has made 23 of 24 attempts this season. His 95.0 percent shooting at the stripe is ninth-best in the NCAA.