FRESNO STATE (4-11, 0-4 MW) at COLORADO STATE (8-6, 2-1 MW)
Jan. 7, 2025 • 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT • Fort Collins, Colo. (Moby Arena)
MEDIA COVERAGE
Mountain West Network
PxP: Brian Roth • Analyst: Adam Nigon
Bulldog Sports Network
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 continues its road trip on Tuesday night at Colorado State. It will be two years to the day since the Bulldogs last played at Moby Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT and will stream on the Mountain West Network.
QUICK LOOK
The Bulldogs are seeking their first win against the Rams since Jan. 5, 2019, and first in Moby Arena since Jan. 6, 2018 (82-79 OT).
Standing at 0-4 in Mountain West play, the Bulldogs are winless through their first four MW games for the first time since joining the conference.
Fresno State is in the midst of a gauntlet to open the Mountain West season, facing six of the top seven teams to start conference play according to the preseason poll. The only team it does not include is preseason favorite Boise State.
With one more road game on the horizon, the 'Dogs will play 10 of their first 16 games away from the Save Mart Center. The Bulldogs played seven of its 11 nonconference games away from home. That matched San Jose State for the most nonconference games away from its home court.
Fresno State has trailed at the half in 13 of 15 games, and is being outscored by average of 6.2 points per game in the first half. The Bulldogs led at the half last time out at Utah State, its first halftime lead since Nov. 20.
Struggling from beyond the arc in the first third of the season, the Bulldogs have begun to heat up, making 55 3-pointers in their last six games (9.2 per game). They had made just 52 in their first nine games (5.8).
Fresno State has scored 80+ points in back-to-back games for the first time this season (New Mexico, Utah State).
The Bulldogs are 1 of 3 teams in the MW to have four players in double figures. Zaon Collins (13.1), Mykell Robinson (11.3), Jalen Weaver (11.2), Alex Crawford (10.2).
Three of those four each have at least one 20-point game after Crawford put up a season-high 26 on 10-of-13 shooting at Utah State (Jan. 4).
Jasir Tremble has been a spark for the offense the past three games, averaging 15.0 points per night and shooting 66.7% from 3 (12-of-18).
LET THE THREES FALL
Struggling to score from 3 for the majority of the season, Fresno State's shots have begun to fall from outside as of late. Since knocking down 12 3-pointers at BYU on Dec. 11, the Bulldogs have made 55 3's in their last five games (9.2 per game). Prior to that, they made 52 in their first nine games (5.8).
Fresno State had not made double-digit 3-pointers in a game until Dec. 11 and has four in the six games since.
In the last four games, the 'Dogs are shooting 44.9% from 3 with 40 made 3's.
TRENDING UP
Shooting overall has been trending in the right direction for the Bulldogs after a tough start to the season. After only four games above 40% in its first 10, Fresno State has shot north of 40% in each of its last five contests.
In the last four games, the 'Dogs have recorded their second-highest (48.3% at Utah State), third-highest (at UNLV, vs. CBU) and sixth-highest (vs. San Diego) shooting percentages of the season.
THE POINTS ARE COMING
The increase in shooting percentages has resulted in higher point totals for the Bulldogs who already have one of the highest possession per 40 minute teams in the country. For the first time this season, the 'Dogs have scored 80-plus points in back-to-back games with 89 against New Mexico (Dec. 31) and 83 at Utah State (Jan. 4). That came after scoring 77 points at UNLV (Dec. 28).
The 89 points were the second-most points scored by Fresno State in a game this year. The 83 was the fourth-most and the 77 was the fifth-most.
BALANCE ON OFFENSE
Fresno State is one of three teams in the Mountain West which currently has four players averaging at least 10 points per game along with Boise State and New Mexico. Zaon Collins leads the team at 13.1 points per game with Mykell Robinson at 11.3, Jalen Weaver at 11.2 and Alex Crawford at 10.2.
Three of the four Bulldogs have at least one 20-point game while Weaver's high is 19.
DC TO CA
With 31 points through his first 12 games as a Bulldog, Jasir Tremble has second 45 in his last three games. Beginning with a season-high 19 at UNLV in the first of the three games, the junior has scored in double figures in each.
Tremble's high prior to the recent stretch was eight against Prairie View A&M (Nov. 20).
Going 5-of-7 from 3 at UNLV (Dec. 28) Tremble's five 3-pointers were the most made 3-pointers by a Bulldog in a game since Xavier DuSell made seven at Air Force on Feb. 10, 2024.
During the last three games, Tremble is shooting 66.7% from 3 (12-of-18).
BREAKOUT
With the ability to take a game over due to a superior athletic ability over many, Alex Crawford put it all on display at Utah State (Jan. 4). With the Bulldogs needing a spark in the second half, the junior provided it scoring 19 of his season-high 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting, including four highlight dunks.
Crawford has shown flashes of what he can do, having games with 17 and 18 points, but against the Aggies he bested those in just the second half, going 8-of-9 for 19 points.
FINDING HIS TOUCH
With double-digit scoring performances in his first seven appearances of the season, Jalen Weaver got his shooting touch going at BYU with 15 points. The senior followed that up by matching his career high of 19 against San Diego. He is currently on a streak of six consecutive game scoring in double figures.
Weaver has scored 88 points in his last six games (14.5 ppg) after a season-low two (1-of-8) at Santa Clara.
Overall, the senior has shot at least 41% from the field in five of his last six games.
Weaver has made 18 3-pointers in the last six games (40.6%, 13-of-32), making at least two in five of the last six.
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 four double-doubles is the fourth-most among freshmen nationally. In the Mountain West, only one freshman has even recorded one.
Price's 7.9 rebounds per game, which ranks third in the MW, is sixth-best among freshmen in the country.
Price is second overall in the MW in offensive rebounds per game at 3.1, 51st in the NCAA.
SERIES HISTORY
Colorado State holds the all-time series lead at 28-17.
The Rams come into Tuesday's contest holding an 11-game winning streak in the series.
The Bulldogs are just 3-19 all-time in Fort Collins.
Fresno State's last win in Fort Collins came on Jan. 5, 2019 (82-79 in OT). Prior to that, the last win was Jan. 3, 1994 (79-73).