FRESNO STATE (11-14, 4-8 MW) at BOISE STATE (16-8, 7-4 MW)
Feb. 17, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. MT / 4:30 p.m. PT | CBSSN | ExtraMile Arena | Boise, Idaho
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV: CBS Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Rich Waltz • Analyst: Mo Cassara
Radio: Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
Play-by-Play: Paul Loeffler • Analyst: Marc Q. Jones
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
Tickets: Bulldog Ticket Office
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno State heads to Boise State on Saturday for its last road game during the next weeks. The Bulldogs will see their final bye come next week followed by home games against San Diego State and Utah State.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MT/4:30 p.m. PT and will air on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz and Mo Cassara on the call.
QUICK LOOK
Fresno State heads to Boise State on Saturday for its last road game during the next weeks.
The Bulldogs will see their final bye come next week followed by home games against San Diego State and Utah State.
On Feb. 24 versus San Diego State, Fresno State will retire Rod Higgins' #22 during halftime.
Fresno State saw its two-game winning streak snapped at home on Wednesday night in a two-point defeat to UNLV. Shorthanded without Eduardo Andre (knee), Donavan Yap Jr. (hand) and Isaac Taveras (personal), the Bulldogs also lost Enoch Boakye (ankle) 90 seconds into the contest. Leo Colimerio took on the brunt of the scoring load and poured in a career-high 30 points, 11 above his previous high, shooting 10-of-13 from the field and 8-of-9 from the line.
Xavier DuSell had the hottest two-game stretch of his career on the road. The senior went for back-to-back career highs in scoring last week with 23 at San Jose State followed by 29 at Air Force. He was a blistering 13-of-18 from 3 (72.2%), and has connected on 12 of his last 15 after going 7-of-8 in Colorado.
With 66 points in his last three games, DuSell is six points away from 1,000 for his collegiate career.
Isaiah Hill continues to lead Fresno State in scoring (12.0 ppg) and assists (6.6 apg) on the year. The point guard is averaging 8.7 assists per game over his last nine outings, and ranks No. 7 nationally in assists per game, second in the MW.
Following the first two weeks of conference play, junior Enoch Boakye has rounded into form. Prior to an ankle injury just 90 seconds into the Bulldogs' last game, the junior was averaging 10.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in his last eight. That stretch included the first four double-doubles of his career.
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 53.6 percent of the scoring thus far.
Fresno State ranks third in the Mountain West in field goal percentage (47.6%) and fourth in fast break points (10.2).
Depth has come in handy as the Bulldogs' bench is averaging 21.3 points per game, tops in the MW.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State is 22-28 all-time against Boise State, and are 8-16 in games played in Boise.
The Bulldogs are 2-3 in Boise since 2019 with wins in 2019 (Jan. 19: 63-53) and 2021 (March 2: 67-64).
30 PIECE FROM THE BENCH
Depleted by injuries in the front court, 6-foot-7 Leo Colimerio moved into the five spot against UNLV. In a season-high 37 minutes, the senior produced a career-high 30 points, nearly helping the 'Dogs knock off the Runnin' Rebels. The native of Sao Paulo, Brazil shot 10-of-13 from the floor and 8-of-9 from the free throw line.
Colimerio's previous high was 19 last season against Colorado State.
Colimerio had scored a total of 30 points in the eight games prior to UNLV.
Colimerio had not scored in double figures since Dec. 9 with a then-season high 13 versus Pacific.
Colimerio had not played over 30 minutes in a game since Nov. 21.
THE FLOOR GENERAL
In 24 games, Isaiah Hill has dished out 158 assists. He has dished out at least eight assists in eight games this season, including a season-high 10 three times.
Nine of Hill's seven-plus assist performances have come in his last 11 games.
In his last 26 games, Hill has recorded 180 assists.
Hill has 29 games at Fresno State with at least six assists.
In 112 games as a Bulldog, Hill ranks third in career assists, moving up eight spots this season.
Hill sits No. 2 in the Mountain West, and No. 7 in the NCAA, this season with 6.6 assists per game.
In conference play, Hill is second, averaging 7.2 per game. In just the last nine games, Hill's average is up to 8.7 per outing.
CONNECTING FROM DEEP
Shoot from outside. That's what was expected and what Wyoming transfer Xavier DuSell has brought to Fresno State. With a team-high 69 made 3-pointers through 25 games, DuSell is above the 2.0 per game he made in his 86 games at Wyoming.
DuSell is shooting a team-high 42.1 percent, 15th in the NCAA while ranking No. 2 in the MW in made 3's per game (2.8).
DuSell has made at least five 3-pointers in four games, including a career high seven (7-of-8) at Air Force.
DuSell has shot at least 50 percent from beyond the arc in 11 of 25 games.