FRESNO STATE (5-22, 1-15 MW) at AIR FORCE (3-23, 0-15 MW)
Feb. 22, 2025 • 1 p.m. MT / 12 p.m. PT • USAF Academy, Colo. (Clune Arena)
MEDIA COVERAGE
Mountain West Network
PxP: Justin Adams • Analyst: Brian Jerman
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. — Ahead of its final bye of the season, Fresno State will head to the Academy on Saturday to face Air Force. The Bulldogs will be seeking their eighth straight win at Clune Arena.
Originally scheduled for 1 p.m. PT, the game was moved up to noon PT and will stream on the Mountain West Network. Paul Loeffler and Marc Q. Jones will have the call for Bulldog Sports Network.
QUICK LOOK
Fresno State will be seeking its eighth straight win at Clune Arena.
Those wins at elevation have not come easy though as five of them have been by six points or less.
The Bulldogs and Falcons last met on Jan. 17, a 74-65 win for the 'Dogs. Fresno State led by 17 at the half, the last time the Bulldogs had a lead going into halftime.
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 two teams in the conference with four players averaging at least 10 points per game--Jalen Weaver (14.0ppg - 10th), Alex Crawford (12.9ppg - 15th), Zaon Collins (10.9ppg - 22nd), Elijah Price (10.5ppg, 27th).
Weaver jumped to the top of that group 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 10.5 ppg while Brian Amuneke is third at 8.5 ppg.
Amuneke has recorded five double-figure games in his last nine. He is averaging 11.7 points per game in his last nine games.
Grabbing his seventh double-double of the year on 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 (7.7 rpg) and third in offensive rebounds (3.00). His seven double-doubles also ranks third-most nationally among freshmen.
Since the start of 2025, Crawford is averaging 14.7 points per game, posting nine double-figure games, including four 20-point games in his last 13.
BY THE NUMBERS
5 - While Fresno State is 0-7 on the road since the start of 2025, five of those losses have been by 20+ points. All five of those losses have been to team's in the Top 6 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.
91.3 - In Fresno State's lone MW win versus Air Force, the 'Dogs shot an arena-best 91.3% (21-of-23) from the free-throw line to fend off a barrage of 3-point attempts (38).
GETTING HANDSY
Only three players in the Mountain West have produced at least six steals in a game this season, and two of those players reside in Fresno. Zaon Collins was the first, collecting six at UCSB on Nov. 13. Elijah Price recorded his six-steal game on Dec. 31 versus New Mexico.
The Bulldogs rank third in the MW in steals, producing 7.8 per game.
Fresno State's 13 steals at Wyoming (Jan. 28) was its most since swiping 13 against Air Force in the 2019 Mountain West quarterfinals (March 14, 2019). Two games later, the 'Dogs forced 11 against San Jose State, their third-most in a game this year. It was pushed to the fourth-most after the 'Dogs produced 12 four days later against Utah State.
DON'T FOUL
Despite the Bulldogs' penchant for coming up with steals, they have done it without fouling which has helped a thin bench. Committing just 15.6 per game, the 'Dogs lead the Mountain West in the fewest per game.
TAKING CHARITY
Through the first 17 games of the season, Fresno State had struggled at the charity stripe with its best percentage of 73.7% coming in the season opener versus Sacramento State, and only shooting above 70% on four occasions. But in the past 11 games, the Bulldogs have been at 77.0% or better in six.
On Jan. 17 against Air Force, Fresno State broke the program's best percentage at the Save Mart Center, shooting 21-of-23 (91.3%). The previous high was 90.5%, set in 2021 and tied in 2022.
The Bulldogs are shooting 76.4% (146-of-191) from the stripe in their last 10 games.
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 7.7 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 3.00, third-most among freshmen in the NCAA.
Price is one of four freshmen in the country to average at least 10 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
Fresno State is 29-9 all-time against Air Force.
The Bulldogs are 13-4 at the Academy and have not lost there since Jan. 11, 2017.
Fresno State is 10-2 at Clune Arena as members of the Mountain West.