FRESNO STATE (6-25, 2-18 MW) vs. NEVADA (16-13, 8-12 MW)
March 12, 2025 • 1:30 p.m. PT • Las Vegas, Nev. (Thomas & Mack Center)
MEDIA COVERAGE
Mountain West Network
PxP: Nate Kreckman • Analyst: Terrence Ogelsby
Bulldog Sports Network(BSN)
PxP: Paul Loeffler • Analyst: Marc Q. Jones • Analyst: Taylor Martinez
Stream: Mountain West Network
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno State will head into this week's Mountain West Men's Basketball Championships as the No. 10 seed and face No. 7 seed Nevada on Wednesday. The contest will be the second of the opening round.
Tipoff at the Thomas & Mack Center is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. PT. The game will stream live on the Mountain West Network with Nate Kreckman and Terrence Ogelsby on the call. Fresno State's trio of Paul Loeffler, Marc Q. Jones and Taylor Martinez will have the call for the Bulldog Sports Network.
QUICK LOOK
The Bulldogs are playing a first round matchup for the sixth straight year, and seventh time overall.
Fresno State is 4-2 all-time in the opening round.
Fresno State will be the lower seed in its opening game at the MW Championships for just the fourth time, with each occurring since 2022. The 'Dogs are 2-1 in their previous three first round games.
This year marks the first time the Bulldogs have been the No. 10 seed at the tournament.
Four of the Bulldogs' last six games overall have seen low-scoring affairs with games going down to wire. Regulation scores were 52-51 with UNLV, 61-61 at Air Force, 66-61 with Boise State and 62-58 with Wyoming.
Fresno State is currently using its 10th different starting lineup this season. That ranks as the 12th-most in the country this season.
The 'Dogs have also seen nine of their players earn their first Division I start this season. It ranks as the second-most for any team in the country this year. Six players in the Bulldogs' current seven-man rotation are included in that group of nine.
Elijah Price enters this week's tournament with three double-doubles in his last four games. He earned his third MW Freshman of the Week honor on Monday after averaging 14.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in two games last week.
One of the Bulldogs' most consistent players through conference play has been Brian Amuneke who is averaging 11.8 points per outing in his last 13 appearances. The reigning MW Freshman of the Week is averaging 45.9% from 3 during that span.
Fresno State is the only team in the MW with two freshmen averaging at least 6.0 points per game in conference play. Elijah Price is first at 10.9 ppg while Brian Amuneke is third at 9.5 ppg.
Amuneke has recorded eight double-figure games in his last 13 appearances.
Price owns the program's Division I record for most double-doubles in a season (10) by a freshman which was previously held by Paul George (2008-09). His 10 are the second-most by a freshman in the country this year.
The redshirt freshman also ranks third in the country among freshmen in rebounding (8.2 rpg) and is first in offensive rebounds (3.13).
Jasir Tremble enters the week with three double-figure scoring games in his last four. Last time out, he dropped a season-high 22 points at San Jose State.
BY THE NUMBERS
70 - Fresno State has been held below 70 points in its last seven contests.
10 - Redshirt freshman Elijah Price has totaled 10 double-doubles this year. It is the most by a Bulldog freshman, surpassing Paul George who had six during the 2008-09 season.
14.5 - Jasir Tremble is averaging 14.5 points in the last four games. That includes matching his then season-high 19 at Air Force, and setting a new high of 22 at San Jose State.
WHO'S STARTING TONIGHT?
Lineup changes have been something Fresno State has become all too accustomed to this season. With the Bulldogs' most recent adjustment on March 1, the team has deployed 10 different starting lineups this season which ranks tied for the 12th-most in the country this year.
Two different lineups were used for seven games each while the other eight have been used between 1-4 games each.
GAINING EXPERIENCE
With 10 different starting lineups, Fresno State has seen 10 different players earn a start this season. That is tied for the ninth-most different starters on a roster in the country. Of those 10, nine Bulldogs earned their first Division I start this season.
Only one team in 2024-25, UT Martin (10), has had more players on its roster earn their first career Division I starts. Tarleton State is tied for the Bulldogs with nine.
YOUTH ON THE RISE
By moving Brian Amuneke into the starting five on Feb. 22, Fresno State has played its last four games with two freshmen, one redshirt, and one true freshman in its starting lineup. In conference play, Elijah Price is averaging 10.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Those numbers rank 24th, third, fifth and seventh in the league. While Amuneke has not made the number of starts that Price has, the 18-year-old has blossomed in conference play where he is averaging 9.5 points per game, which ranks 34th in league play. Amuneke is also shooting 42.3% from outside (30-of-71), the 14th-highest clip in the conference. Only five players ahead of him have more than 40 attempts.
Price and Amuneke are the only freshman teammates to average more than six points in Mountain West games.
Price has started all 31 games this season while Amuneke has started in four which includes the last three.
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 10 double-doubles are the second-most among freshmen nationally, and 37th overall.
Price's 8.2 rebounds per game, which ranks third in the MW, is third-best among freshmen in the country.
Price is second overall in the MW in offensive rebounds per game at 3.13, 36th in the NCAA. The 3.13 leads all freshmen nationally.
Price is one of three freshmen in the country to average at least 10.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.