FRESNO STATE (5-21, 1-14 MW) at SAN DIEGO STATE (17-6, 10-4 MW)
Feb. 18, 2025 • 8 p.m. PT • San Diego, Calif. (Viejas Arena)
MEDIA COVERAGE
CBS Sports Network
PxP: Jordan Kent • Analyst: Darren Collison
Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
PxP: Paul Loeffler • Analyst: Marc Q. Jones
Stream: Mountain West Network
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno State returns to the road this week, traveling to San Diego State on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. PT at Viejas Arena and will broadcast on CBS Sports Network with Jordan Kent and Darren Collison on the call.
QUICK LOOK
Fresno State will be seeking its first win against the Aztecs since 2019.
Jalen Weaver and Pierre Geneste Jr. are the only Bulldogs on the current roster to have played in Viejas Arena, with Weaver scoring eight points in 16 points, and Geneste Jr. totaling two rebounds in five minutes in last season's contest.
Tuesday will be a welcome home party for the Bulldogs' No. 3 scorer, Alex Crawford. The junior is from nearby Chula Vista, Calif., and won a state title his senior year at Coronado High School alongside San Diego State senior Wayne McKinney III.
During the last 10 games, Fresno State has held six of its opponents to below 70 points in regulation. Three of those five contests ended in overtime defeats along with one-point and five-point defeats in regulation.
In Mountain West play, Fresno State is one of three teams in the conference with three players averaging at least 12 points per game--Jalen Weaver (13.9ppg - 12th), Alex Crawford (12.8ppg - 17th), Zaon Collins (11.4ppg - 21st).
Weaver jumped to the top of that trio after dropping three 20-point games in the past month, which included a career-high 23 against Wyoming and San Jose State. He entered January without one in his career.
Fresno State is the only team in the MW with two freshmen averaging at least 8.0 points per game in conference play. Elijah Price is second at 10.9 ppg while Brian Amuneke is third at 8.5 ppg.
Amuneke has recorded five double-figure games in his last eight. He is averaging 12.0 points per game in his last eight games.
Grabbing his seventh double-double vs. UNLV (Feb. 15), Elijah Price broke the program's Division I record for most double-doubles in a season by a freshman which was previously held by Paul George (2008-09).
The redshirt freshman also ranks fourth in the country among freshmen in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and third in offensive rebounds (3.12). His seven double-doubles also ranks third-most nationally among freshmen.
BY THE NUMBERS
4 - While Fresno State is 0-6 on the road since the start of 2025, five of those losses have been by 20+ points. All four of those losses have been to team's in the Top 5 of the league standings.
7 - Redshirt freshman Elijah Price has totaled seven double-doubles this year. It is the most by a Bulldog freshman, surpassing Paul George who had six during the 2008-09 season. Only four Bulldog freshmen have recorded at least five in the last 25 years.
2 - After Fresno State's defeat to UNLV, the Bulldogs have dropped two games this season when attempting a potential go-ahead 3-pointer at the end of regulation.
GET TO THE RACK
A product of Vance Walberg's system is getting to the free-throw line, set up by constant drives to the bucket. The Bulldogs have used that to their advantage, attempting 22.4 free throws per game which ranks 39th nationally and second in the MW.
Fresno State has attempted 7.2 more free throws per game than its opponents.
Against Sacramento State, the 'Dogs were +17 in free throw attempts. At Long Beach State, they held a +40 differential in attempts. Both games resulted in single-digit wins for the Bulldogs as they overcame shooting below 35% from the field.
In the last nine games, Fresno State has averaged 6.6 more made free throws that its opponents. The difference in the Bulldogs' win over Air Force was that they shot a season-high 91.3% (21-of-23). The previous four games before the win saw the 'Dogs below 71%.
A SECOND-HALF TEAM
Fresno State has proved to be a second-half team this year, scoring 995 of its 1,784 regulation points in the second half. The Bulldogs have scored more points in the second half in 21 of their 26 games.
Fresno State has trailed at the half in 22 of its 26 games. Margins have ranged from 1-18 points.
Fresno State has won games when trailing by five (San Diego), seven (Sacramento State) and 11 (Long Beach State) at the half.
PRICE IS RIGHT
After redshirting the 2023-24 season at Drake, Elijah Price made the decision to return back to his home state and join Fresno State, and it's quickly paying off for both sides. A Swiss-army knife type of player, the 6-foot-9 Price has throughout the season. He is the only Bulldog to start every game.
On Feb. 15, Price recorded his seventh double-double of the season to become the Bulldogs' first freshman in the Division I era to reach that total, passing the previous freshman record that was held by Paul George (2008-09).
En route to the record he also passed Orlando Robinson (2020-21) and Greg Smith (2009-10) who each had five.
The seven is the most by a Bulldog since Robinson had 12 during the 2021-22 season.
AMONG THE TOP OF HIS CLASS
Elijah Price's motor has been on display since the first day he stepped on the floor for the 'Dogs. That hustle has put him in the mix as not just one of the best freshman post players in not just the conference, but the country.
Price's seven double-doubles is tied for the third-most among freshmen nationally.
Price's 8.0 rebounds per game, which ranks third in the MW, is fourth-best among freshmen in the country.
Price is second overall in the MW in offensive rebounds per game at 3.12, third-most among freshmen in the NCAA.
SERIES HISTORY
San Diego State owns the all-time series lead at 73-53.
Fresno State is 19-42 all-time in San Diego against the Aztecs.
The Bulldogs have dropped its last three games at Viejas Arena.