FRESNO STATE (9-12, 2-6 MW) vs. RV/RV Colorado State (16-5, 4-4 MW)
Feb. 3, 2024 | 7 p.m. PT | CBS Sports Network | Save Mart Center | Fresno, Calif.
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV: CBS Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Carter Blackburn • Analyst: Pete Gillen
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. — Ahead of a two-game road stretch, Fresno State will host Colorado State on Saturday evening. The matchup will be the only one during the regular season between the Bulldogs and Rams this season.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT and air on CBS Sports Network with Carter Blackburn and Pete Gillen on the call.
QUICK LOOK
Fresno State is coming off a nine-point defeat at UNLV after nearly erasing a 15-point first half deficit.
Isaiah Pope has led the Bulldogs offensively in the last 11 games, averaging 12.6 points per game during that stretch. All eight of the senior's double-figure games this season have come since Dec. 18 (11 games).
Isaiah Hill continues to lead Fresno State in scoring (12.5 ppg) and assists (6.3 apg) on the year. The point guard is averaging 8.8 assists per game over his last five outings, and ranks No. 12 nationally in assists per game, third in the MW.
During the last three weeks, junior Enoch Boakye has begun to round into form, averaging 11.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in his last five. That stretch includes the first three double-doubles of his career.
Boakye (8.2) ranks No. 4 in the MW in rebounding per game and is No. 3 in defensive boards (5.8).
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 39.0 percent clip (53-of-136). He sits second in the MW in 3-pointers made per game (2.5). He ranks No. 56 in the NCAA in 3-point percentage.
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 52.4 percent of the scoring thus far.
Fresno State ranks fourth in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (47.8%) and fast break points (11.0). The Bulldogs have shot over 50 percent from the field in each of their last three games.
Depth has come in handy as the Bulldogs' bench is averaging 22.1 points per game, tops in the MW.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State is 17-27 all-time against Colorado State but 13 of those wins have come in Fresno.
The last two meetings in the series have been separated by one possession with the Rams winning by two in Las Vegas and by three in Fresno.
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 five games, the center has averaged 11.4 points and 9.0 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 the first three double-doubles of his career in the recent stretch.
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.
LOOK OUT BELOW
With the ability to dunk his forearm, it's no wonder that Enoch Boakye has had his fair share of dunks in the run of play. Of his 80 made field goals this year, 43 have been dunks (53.8%).
Boakye has five games with at least five dunks. He had a career-high six against Air Force.
Boakye has 16 dunks in the last three games.
FLOOR GENERAL
In 20 games, Isaiah Hill has dished out 125 assists. He has dished out at least eight assists in seven games this season, including a season-high 10 at Utah State and versus Air Force.
Five of Hill's seven-plus assist performances have come in his seven games.
In his last 23 games, Hill has recorded 147 assists.
Hill has 25 games at Fresno State with at least six assists.
In 107 games as a Bulldog, Hill ranks fifth in career assists, moving up six spots this season.
Hill sits No. 3 in the Mountain West, and No. 12 in the NCAA, this season with 6.3 assists per game.
In conference play, Hill is averaging 6.6 per game and is tied for the league lead in assist-turnover ratio at 3.53.
70 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
70 points. Through 21 games, 70 has been the number that the Bulldogs' offense is looking for. All but one of Fresno State's wins have come when scoring more than 70 points. When they don't hit that mark, it has all but once resulted in a loss for the 'Dogs.
The Bulldogs are 8-1 when reaching 70 points.