FRESNO STATE (5-13, 1-6 MW) at NEW MEXICO (15-4, 7-1 MW)
Jan. 20, 2025 • 3 p.m. MT/2 p.m. PT • Albuquerque, N.M (The Pit)
MEDIA COVERAGE
CBS Sports Network
PxP: Chris Lewis • Analyst: Darren Collison
Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
PxP: Paul Loeffler • Analyst: Marc Q. Jones • Sideline: Taylor Martinez
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network
Live Stats: Bulldogslive.com
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateMBB
FRESNO, Calif. — Coming off its first win of Mountain West play, Fresno State travels to Albuquerque, N.M. Monday's game between the Bulldogs and Lobos will air during a six-game block on CBS Sports Network on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. MT/2 p.m. PT with Chris Lewis and Darren Collison on the call.
QUICK LOOK
Fresno State holds the all-time series lead at 21-20 but is just 3-14 against the Lobos in Albuquerque.
In Mountain West play, Fresno State is one of two teams with three players in the Top 20 in scoring--Alex Crawford (13.9ppg - 11th), Zaon Collins (13.3ppg - 14th), Jalen Weaver (12.7ppg - 17th). The other is the Bulldogs' opponent on Monday.
On Friday night, Crawford and Collins became the first Bulldog teammates in more than a year to post 20 points in the same game. It was each player's third 20-point game this season.
After only holding a halftime lead once in their first 14 games, the Bulldogs have led at the half in three of their last four games.
The 'Dogs are 2-2 with the lead at the half. Both wins came when leading by 17.
Fresno State had its best overall shooting game against Air Force on Friday. The Bulldogs shot a season-high 50.0% from the field and 91.3% from the free-throw line.
The game featured a much slower pace than the Bulldogs have been accustomed to this season. Fresno State had a season-low 61 possessions, four below its previous low (at UNLV), and 12 below its season average.
Fresno State opened its Mountain West season with a gauntlet that included facing six of the top seven teams according to the preseason poll. The only team it does not include is preseason favorite Boise State.
Elijah Price ranks fifth in the country among freshmen in rebounding (7.9 rpg), fourth in offensive rebounds (2.89), and seventh in double-doubles (4).
Walberg is one of four current Division I head coaches who was a high school head coach the season before taking over their current head coaching position (Penny Hardaway, Bucky McMillan, Stan Waterman).
BY THE NUMBERS
20.5 - In his last four games, Alex Crawford is averaging 20.5 points per game on 58% shooting (29-of-50).
91.3 - Fresno State shot a season-high 91.3% from the free-throw line (21-of-23) against Air Force. The team's highest percentage previously was 73.7% in the season opener.
84 - After its least amount of possessions in a game this season (61), Fresno State will turn around and face New Mexico. On Dec. 31, the Bulldogs had a season-high 84 against the Lobos.
STREAK ENDED
When Fresno State defeated Air Force on Jan. 17, it ended the Bulldogs' six-game losing skid. That stretch included six Mountain West games against the majority of the league's best teams.
The streak was one game shy of last season's seven-game skid that ran from Feb. 14-March 9.
BECOMING A FIRST-HALF TEAM?
While Fresno State's offense has been significantly better in second halves, the Bulldogs have recently been getting out of the gate quicker against opponents. Until Jan. 4 at Utah State, the 'Dogs had led at the half just once this season. Fresno State has since led at the half in three of its four games.
Fresno State has led by 1 (Nevada), 3 (Utah State) and 17 (Air Force) in six conference games.
ASSERTING HIMSELF
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. That performance not only sparked the Bulldogs, but sparked himself. Crawford has been in double figures each of the last four games including 20-point games in three of them.
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.
Scoring 81 points in his last four games, Crawford has averaged 12.5 shot attempts in that stretch (13, 12, 12, 13) after just one game with 10 or more in his previous 12 games.
20-POINT DUO
While Alex Crawford had 21 points in the Bulldogs' win over Air Force, it was Zaon Collins who led the team in the scoring column with 23. It marked the first since the 2023 Cancun Challenge that the Bulldogs have had two players score at least 20 points in the same game.
Collins and Crawford each have a team-high three 20-point games this season.
Two of Collins' have come in the last six games while all three have Crawford's have come in the last four.