FRESNO STATE (11-17, 4-11 MW) AT NEVADA (23-6, 10-5 MW)
March 1, 2024 | 7:30 p.m. PT | CBSSN | Lawlor Events Center | Reno, Nev.
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV: CBS Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Dave Ryan • Analyst: Steve Wolfe
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
FRESNO, Calif. — After playing back-to-back Top 25 teams at home, Fresno State returns to the road to face Nevada on Friday night. It will be the first of two straight road games before the Bulldogs close the regular season in Fresno on March 9 against Wyoming.
Friday's game is set for a 7:30 p.m. PT tipoff with Dave Ryan and Steve Wolfe on the call for CBS Sports Network.
QUICK LOOK
Fresno State is in the midst of a six-game stretch against the current Top 6 teams in the Mountain West.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Bulldogs have essentially played its last four games with eight or less scholarship players.
During the recent stretch, five players are averaging over 32 minutes per game. Four of the players are averaging between 11-14 points per game with Leo Colimerio at 13.8.
Isaiah Hill continues to lead Fresno State in scoring (12.5 ppg) and assists (6.2 apg) on the year. The point guard is averaging 7.3 assists per game over his last 12 outings, and ranks No. 13 nationally in assists per game, third in the MW.
Transfer Xavier DuSell is second on the team in scoring at 11.4 points per game. The senior leads the 'Dogs in 3-point percentage, connecting at 40.5 percent clip (77-of-190), 29th nationally. He sits second in the MW in 3-pointers made per game (2.75).
Fresno State features three players in its lineup who have 1,000 points. Hill accomplished the feat last season while DuSell (Feb. 17) and Isaiah Pope (Dec. 18) hit the milestone this year.
With seven newcomers to the squad this year, that group has stepped in quickly to help complement the returners in the scoring column. Newcomers have accounted for 54.0 percent of the scoring thus far.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State is 45-64 all-time against Nevada.
The Bulldogs are 17-36 in Reno with their last win at Lawlor Events Center coming on Jan. 21, 2017.
The Bulldogs' last win in the series came on its home court in 2022 (73-56).
THE GAUNTLET
With the season winding down, Fresno State drew one of, if not the toughest six-game stretches in the Mountain West this season. Starting on Valentine's Day with UNLV, the Bulldogs have played or will play each of the Top 6 teams in the league standings. That included No. 19 San Diego State and No. 22 Utah State in their last two games.
Two of the four contests have been separated by four points or less (UNLV, Utah State).
MY TEAM IS ON THE FLOOR
Depleted by injuries in February, Fresno State has gone from relying on its bench for production to having five players average over 32 minutes per game since Feb. 14.
Xavier DuSell is averaging a team-high 40.4 minutes per game during the last four games.
Four 'Dogs are averaging just 11-14 points, led by Leo Colimerio at 13.8.
THE FLOOR GENERAL
In 27 games, Isaiah Hill has dished out 168 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 14 games.
In his last 29 games, Hill has recorded 190 assists.
Hill has 30 games at Fresno State with at least six assists.
In 115 games as a Bulldog, Hill ranks third in career assists, moving up eight spots this season.
Hill sits No. 3 in the Mountain West, and No. 13 in the NCAA, this season with 6.3 assists per game.
In conference play, Hill is second, averaging 6.4 per outing. He is also narrowly in second in assist-turnover ratio at 3.43.
1,000-POINT TRANSFERS
With 14 points at Boise State (Feb.17), Xavier DuSell surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his collegiate career. He is the second Bulldog transfer to do that this year, joining Isaiah Pope who scored his 1,000th point on Dec. 18, 2023.
DuSell came to Fresno State from Wyoming where he had scored 714 points in 86 games.
He has 1,034 points in his career in 113 games.
Pope is playing in his fifth collegiate season, and first at Fresno State. He has 1,180 points in 131 games.
Pope began his career at D-II Humboldt State before transferring to Utah Tech where he totaled 711 points in three seasons, scoring 432 during the 2022-23 season.