FRESNO STATE (11-18, 4-12 MW) AT NEW MEXICO (21-8, 9-7 MW)
March 6, 2024 | 8:30 p.m. MT/7:30 p.m. PT | FS1 | The Pit | Albuquerque, N.M.
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV: FS1
Play-by-Play: Drew Goodman • Analyst: Nick Bahe
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. — Fresno State will head to Albuquerque, N.M. for its final road game of the season on Wednesday against New Mexico at The Pit. It will be the second of two straight road games before the Bulldogs close the regular season in Fresno on March 9 against Wyoming.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. MT/7:30 p.m. PT and will air on FS1 with Drew Goodman and Nick Bahe on the call.
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 five games with eight or less scholarship players. Only six players saw the court last on Friday at Nevada.
During the recent stretch, five players are averaging over 33 minutes per game. Three of the players are averaging between 13-14 points per game with Isaiah Hill at 14.0.
Isaiah Hill continues to lead Fresno State in scoring (12.6 ppg) and assists (6.1 apg) on the year. The point guard is averaging 7.1 assists per game over his last 13 outings, and ranks No. 16 nationally in assists per game, third in the MW.
Transfer Xavier DuSell is second on the team in scoring at 11.5 points per game. The senior leads the 'Dogs in 3-point percentage, connecting at 39.7 percent clip (79-of-199), 42nd nationally. He sits second in the MW in 3-pointers made per game (2.72).
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 54.3 percent of the scoring thus far.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State is 18-21 all-time against New Mexico.
Since joining the MW, Fresno State is 14-10 against the Lobos and held a seven-game winning streak from Feb. 2020-Jan. 2023.
The Bulldogs are just 3-12 in Albuquerque with their last win in The Pit coming on Jan. 25, 2022 (65-60).
All three Fresno State wins in Albuquerque have come since 2016 (3-4).
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 back-to-back games against then-No. 19 San Diego State and No. 22 Utah State.
Two of the five 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 33 minutes per game since Feb. 14.
Last time out, the Bulldogs played just six players.
Xavier DuSell is averaging a team-high 39.7 minutes per game during the last five games while Isaiah Hill is at 39.0.
Three 'Dogs are averaging just 13-14 points, led by Hill at 14.0.
THE FLOOR GENERAL
In 28 games, Isaiah Hill has dished out 172 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 15 games.
In his last 30 games, Hill has recorded 194 assists.
Hill has 30 games at Fresno State with at least six assists.
In 116 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. 16 in the NCAA, this season with 6.1 assists per game.
In conference play, Hill is second, averaging 6.3 per outing. He also leads the league in assist-turnover ratio at 3.57.