FRESNO STATE (9-13, 2-7 MW) at SAN JOSE STATE (8-14, 1-8 MW)
Feb. 5, 2024 | 7 p.m. PT | NBC Sports Bay Area/MWN | Provident Credit Union Event Center | San Jose, Calif.
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV/Stream: NBC Sports Bay Area / 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
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno State begins a two-game road stretch on Tuesday night when the Bulldogs head up to the Bay Area to face San Jose State.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT and will air on both NBC Sports Bay Area and the Mountain West Network.
QUICK LOOK
It will be the 176th meeting between the long-standing rivals.
Fresno State took the first game in this season's series on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Isaiah Hill (85-82). The 167 total points are the most in a Fresno State game this season.
Isaiah Pope has led the Bulldogs offensively in the last 12 games, averaging 12.0 points per game during that stretch. All eight of the senior's double-figure games this season have come since Dec. 18 (12 games).
Isaiah Hill continues to lead Fresno State in scoring (12.4 ppg) and assists (6.4 apg) on the year. The point guard is averaging 8.8 assists per game over his last six outings, and ranks No. 10 nationally in assists per game, third in the MW.
During the last three weeks, junior Enoch Boakye has begun to round into form, averaging 11.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in his last six. 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 38.8 percent clip (54-of-139). He sits fourth in the MW in 3-pointers made per game (2.45). • 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 52.0 percent of the scoring thus far.
Fresno State ranks fourth in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (47.7%) and fast break points (10.7). The Bulldogs have shot over 50 percent from the field in three of their last four games.
Depth has come in handy as the Bulldogs' bench is averaging 22.2 points per game, tops in the MW.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State is 97-78 all-time against San Jose State. The Bulldogs are 35-42 on the road.
The 'Dogs are 4-1 in their last five trips to San Jose. Four of the games have been decided by double digits (3-1).
Since both teams moved into the MW, Fresno State is 5-0 when scoring 73 or more in San Jose. The 'Dogs are 1-3 when held below.
THE FLOOR GENERAL
In 21 games, Isaiah Hill has dished out 134 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.
Six of Hill's seven-plus assist performances have come in his last eight games.
In his last 24 games, Hill has recorded 156 assists.
Hill has 26 games at Fresno State with at least six assists.
In 108 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. 10 in the NCAA, this season with 6.4 assists per game.
In conference play, Hill is tied for the league lead, averaging 6.9 per game.
During the last six games, Hill has dished out 8.8 assists per game while holding a 4.1 assist-turnover ratio. That includes two games with zero turnovers.
20-POINT OUTINGS
Against Morgan State, Donavan Yap Jr. had a night to remember. The senior poured in a career-high 23 points coming off the bench to lead the 'Dogs to a 19-point win. It was the first 20-point performance of his career. He followed that up with 20 points versus New Mexico State. He added his third over two months later.
Yap Jr. has three of the Bulldogs' four 20-point games this season. Two of his three have happened while coming off the bench (Morgan State, Colorado State).
SCORING FROM THE BENCH
Depth is big in a long season and Fresno State has been trying to develop that. Fresno State is getting 22.2 points per game from its bench, tops in the Mountain West.
A bench player has scored in double figures in 15 out of 22 games for the Bulldogs.
The 'Dogs are 2-0 this season when two bench players reach double figures.
Donavan Yap Jr. 10.8 points per game when coming off the bench in Mountain West play.
When coming off the bench in conference play, and playing over 20 minutes, Yap Jr. has averaged 14.8 points per game in those five contests.
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 11.0 points and 8.7 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.
RETURN TO SENDER
Through 13 nonconference games, Enoch Bokaye was averaging 0.85 blocks per game. Since Mountain West play began, the junior has been more forceful inside, averaging 1.78 blocks per game which ranks No. 4 in the league.
Boakye has seven multi-block games this season which includes a career-high at UNLV. Four of those seven have come in conference play.