FRESNO STATE (3-4) vs. No. 24 SAN DIEGO STATE (4-2)
Dec. 4, 2024 • 7:30 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
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Game Sponsor: Clovis Family Dentistry
MEDIA COVERAGE
FS1
PxP: Trent Rush • Analyst: Casey Jacobsen
Bulldog Sports Network
PxP: Paul Loeffler • Analyst: Marc Q. Jones • Sideline: Taylor Martinez
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno State takes a break in its nonconference schedule on Wednesday to host No. 24 San Diego State in its Mountain West opener. It will be one of three MW games on Wednesday before the remainder of the conference's picks back up later this month.
Tipoff on Wednesday is set for 7:30 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. FS1 will air the matchup with Trent Rush and Casey Jacobsen on the call.
QUICK LOOK
Wednesday will be the ninth time the Aztecs will head into the Save Mart Center nationally ranked.
Wednesday will be the 15th time the Bulldogs have hosted a nationally-ranked team at the Save Mart Center.
Fresno State will be playing its first game at home in two weeks after going 1-2 in Southern California.
Prior to the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Desert, Calif., the Bulldogs pulled off the 26th-largest comeback in the final five minutes of a game in Division I history (11) in their win at Long Beach State.
It was one of five times the 'Dogs have trailed by double-digits in the final minutes. They have outscored their opponent down the stretch in four of those.
Fresno State is the only program to have two players rank in the Top 50 nationally in offensive rebounds. Mor Seck (3.67) and Elijah Price (3.43) are 17th and 34th.
Price also ranks 31st nationally and third in the MW in total rebounds per game (9.1) to go along with his 9.1 points per game.
Amar Augillard leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 17.6 points per game. He has scored 20-plus points four times.
Vance Walberg's high-tempo style has the Bulldogs ranked second in the nation in adjusted tempo, averaging 74.1 possessions per 40 minutes.
NOT OVER TIL IT'S OVER
Fresno State has had a never say die attitude when facing double-digit second-half deficits. The Bulldogs' have trailed by double digits in the second half in five games (1-4), but in four of those they have outscored their opponents in the final seven minutes. Three of those games have seen the 'Dogs outscore their opponents by double digits.
Against UCSB (22-8) and Long Beach State (14-0), Fresno State outscored their opponent by 14 points during the final minutes.
While the Bulldogs were leading Sacramento State by one with under two minutes to play the 'Dogs closed that game on a 6-0 run.
HITTING RUNS
In seven games, Fresno State has hit stretches of 11 points or more without its opponent scoring in four of them. The Bulldogs are 3-1 in those games.
Fresno State had a 14-point run at Long Beach State, 13 against CBU, 12 versus Prairie View A&M and 11 against 11 against Sacramento State.
The most answered points the Bulldogs have allowed this season is nine.
GETTING UP AND DOWN
Expected coming into the season, Vance Walberg's high tempo style has resulted in the Bulldogs' averaging the second-most possessions per 40 minutes in the country at 74.1. Fresno State is one of only two teams averaging more than 74 along with conference mate New Mexico who is at 74.7.
During the past four seasons, Fresno State has averaged between 61.8 and 65.8 possessions per 40 minutes.
Fresno State has not averaged more than 70 possessions per 40 minutes in a season since 2001-02. That season the Bulldogs ranked No. 32 in adjusted tempo at 72.4.
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 grown each game, earning starts in all seven.
Scoring six points in first two outings, the Long Beach native put his versatility on display in Game 3, recording 11 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals at CSU Bakersfield. He followed that up with his first double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. He earned his second against CBU with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
Price's 9.1 rebounds per game ranks third in the MW and 31st nationally. He has grabbed nine or more in his last four games.
24 of Price's 64 rebounds have come on the offensive end.
CALLED INTO A NEW ROLE
With Zaon Collins sidelined against Prairie View A&M and Long Beach State, 6-foot-7 forward Mykell Robinson took over a new role as the team's point guard. The redshirt junior thrived in the role, averaging 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 37.1 minutes per game and leading the Bulldogs to two wins.
Robinson has been a workhorse for the Bulldogs this season, ranking 10th in the nation in minutes per game (36.0).
RETURNING TO ACTION
Following a two-game layoff due to an ankle injury, Zaon Collins exploded for a season-high 27 points against Washington State. The point guard shot an efficient 64.7% (11-of-17) while also going 2-of-3 from 3 in 37 minutes.
Collins has been in double figures in all five games he's played in, averaging 15.0 points per game.
GIVE ME 20
One of the Bulldogs' top scoring threats has been 2024 NJCAA Division I Player of the Year Amar Augillard. Well-known for his scoring prowess, he has four 20 point-performances, going for 20-plus each time he has reached double figures.
Augillard's 17.6 points per game ranks fifth in the Mountain West.
SERIES HISTORY
San Diego State holds the all-time series lead 72-53.
The Bulldogs are 31-26 at home in the series.
Fresno State has lost the last 10 in the series after sweeping the 2019 season series.