Clash at the Save Mart Center: Fresno State Bulldogs to Lock Horns with Colorado State Rams
As the Fresno State Bulldogs prepare to host the Colorado State Rams at the Save Mart Center, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be a riveting encounter. The Bulldogs' recent performances have been a mixed bag, but there's more than meets the eye when dissecting their game.
In their last outing on December 23 against San Francisco Dons, FRES fell short despite a strong first half where they put up 34 points. The final score of 57-77 doesn't do justice to their efforts. A glaring issue was their three-point shooting, which stood at a paltry 17 percent. However, they excelled in points in the paint with 30 and showed resilience on defense with six steals and four blocks.
The previous home game for FRES against Portland State Vikings on December 19 was an overtime heartbreaker that ended in a narrow defeat, 72-75. Despite this setback, there were positives; notably their two-point field goal percentage of 52 percent and dominance in paint scoring with 40 points.
A few days earlier on December 16 against Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners, FRES eked out a win by just three points (61-58). Their two-point field goal accuracy was impressive at an astounding rate of 68 percent and they managed to dish out an assist-turnover ratio of 1.5 – showcasing better ball control than seen in subsequent games.
The upcoming match poses challenges but also opportunities for FRES. They'll need to capitalize on their strengths – aggressive play inside and solid two-point shooting while addressing weaknesses like three-point efficiency and turnovers that have plagued them recently.
CSU comes into this game as worthy opponents; however, it's worth noting that while they've had success from beyond the arc previously, every team has off-nights. If FRES can apply pressure defensively and force CSU into uncomfortable positions while maintaining offensive efficiency inside the arc as shown before – particularly by exploiting any lapses in CSU's perimeter defense – victory is within reach.
Fans should expect Coach Justin Hutson’s squad to come out determined after these close encounters; ready to make adjustments and leverage home-court advantage where they've historically performed well this season.
Mark your calendars for February 3rd at midnight PST when these two teams will face off at Save Mart Center in Fresno. For those unable to attend live action can catch all events unfold nationally on CBS Sports Network channel number is not available due to editorial guidelines.