FRESNO STATE (9-11, 2-5 MW) at UNLV (10-9, 3-4 MW)
Jan. 30, 2024 | 8 p.m. PT | FS1 | Thomas & Mack Center | Las Vegas, Nev.
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV: FS1
Play-by-Play: Jordan Kent • Analyst: Dan Dickau
Radio: Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
Play-by-Play: Paul Loeffler • Analyst: Marc Q. Jones
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
Tickets: Bulldog Ticket Office
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno State heads to Las Vegas on Tuesday to face UNLV for the first of two meetings in the next 15 days. The Bulldogs have won the last two in the series after sweeping the Runnin' Rebels last season.
Tuesday's contest is scheduled for 8 p.m. PT and will air on FS1 with Jordan and Dan Dickau on the call.
QUICK LOOK
Fresno State enters Tuesday coming off its second conference win and sits a game behind UNLV in the standings.
Isaiah Pope has led the Bulldogs offensively in the last 10 games, averaging 12.4 points per game during that stretch. All seven of the senior's double-figure games this season have come since Dec. 18 (10 games).
Isaiah Hill continues to lead Fresno State in scoring (12.5 ppg) and assists (6.1 apg) on the year. Coming off his second 10-assist outing of the year, the point guard ranks No. 17 nationally in assists per game, fourth in the MW.
During the last two weeks, junior Enoch Boakye has begun to round into form, averaging 10.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in his last four. That stretch includes the first two double-doubles of his career.
Transfer Xavier DuSell is second on the team in scoring at 9.7 points per game. The senior leads the 'Dogs in 3-point percentage, connecting at 39.7 percent clip (50-of-126). He sits fourth in the MW in 3-pointers made per game (2.5). He ranks No. 52 in the NCAA in 3-point percentage.
Enoch Boakye (8.2) ranks No. 3 in the MW in rebounding per game and is No. 3 in defensive boards (5.7).
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 51.4 percent of the scoring thus far.
Fresno State ranks fourth in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (47.6%) and fourth in fast break points (11.2).
Depth has come in handy thus far as the Bulldogs' bench is averaging 22.7 points per game, tops in the MW. The bench has accounted for 30 or more points in four contests.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State 19-34 all-time against UNLV but the series has been even in the last eight at 4-4.
Six of the last eight meetings have been separated by three points or less.
Prior to the last eight, Fresno State had won seven straight in the series.
DOUBLING UP
In the Bulldogs' win over Air Force, Enoch Boakye and Isaiah Hill each recorded a double-double. Boakye did it with points (19) and rebounds (10) while Hill did it with points (11) and assists (10).
It was the second double-double of each of their careers.
It was the first time two Bulldogs recorded a double-double in the same game since Eduardo Andre (10 pts/10 rbs) and Isaiah Hill (13 pts/10 asts) on March 4, 2023 against Chicago State.
FLOOR GENERAL
In 19 games, Isaiah Hill has dished out 116 assists. He has dished out at least eight assists in six games this season, including a season-high 10 at Utah State.
In his last 22 games, Hill has recorded 138 assists.
Hill has 24 games at Fresno State with at least six assists.
In 106 games as a Bulldog, Hill ranks fifth in career assists, moving up six spots this season.
Hill sits No. 4 in the Mountain West, and No. 17 in the NCAA, this season with 6.1 assists per game.
In conference play, Hill is averaging 6.3 per game and is No. 2 in assist-turnover ratio at 4.00.
DON'T NOCH HIM
At 6-foot-11, 250-pound, Enoch Boakye has been a presence inside for the 'Dogs and has begun to find his rhythm in conference play. In the last four games, the center has averaged 10.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
While Boakye had played in 50 games in two seasons prior to this year, minutes were scarce. This year, he's playing over 20 minutes per outing and the time is starting to show.
Boakye has recorded his first two career double-doubles in the recent stretch, going for 10 points and 13
Strong on the glass, Boakye ranks No. 3 in the MW in rebounding grabbing 8.2 per game.
The center has four games with at least 13 rebounds including a 16-board effort against UCSB.
HITTING HIS STRIDE
With 31 points through the first 10 games of the season, Isaiah Pope has begun to find his footing after being hampered by injury early in the season. The fifth-year senior has scored 124 points in his last 10 games (12.4 ppg).
Pope has led the Bulldogs in scoring in five of the last 10 games.
All seven of Pope's double-digit scoring games this season have come in the last 10 games.