Fresno State vs. New Mexico: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Predictions
Can the Bulldogs win at The Pit?
Contact/Follow @MWCwire
Lobos trying to defend home court
[mm-video type=playlist id=01fb7dafw2b08817yr player_id=none image=https://mwwire.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
WHO: Fresno State (13-5 3-2 in the MW) Vs New Mexico (7-12 0-6 in the MW)
When: Tuesday, January 25th, 6:00 pm PT
Where: Albuquerque, New Mexico
TV: Stadium
Stream: Mountain West Network
Series Record: 18-17 Fresno State Leads
The Bulldogs are headed to the Pit after getting their nine game win streak snapped by Nevada 73-77. The Dogs went on a 13-4 run to end the game but just fell short as the Wolf Pack controlled most of the second half. Fresno State had 16 turnovers and committed 24 fouls Friday night. 77 points were the most points given up this season by the Bulldogs. Now Fresno State looks to bounce back against a team who doesn’t have a conference win yet in the New Mexico Lobos.
The Lobos are coming off a heartbreaking two point loss to the Wyoming Cowboys. Five of six conference games the Lobos have lossed by nine points or less. New Mexico has two of the top ten scores in Jamal Mashburn Jr who is seventh in conference in scoring putting up 17.9ppg and shooting 43.2% from the field. The Lobos also have Jaelen House who is ninth in conference in scoring putting up 16.1ppg and shooting 40.3% from the field.
Keys For New Mexico:
The Lobos are looking for that first conference win Tuesday night when they face the Fresno State Bulldogs who have won their last nine out of ten games. If the Lobos want to pull out the upset tonight it’s going to have to start on the defensive side of the ball. New Mexico gives up 78.8 ppg which is last in the conference.
Good news for the Lobos, the Bulldogs are ninth in the conference in scoring but will have their hands full with Junior Forward Orlando Robinson who is putting up 19.7ppg and 8.7rpg. Robinson is third in the Mountain West in scoring and fifth in rebounding. Another key will be the three point shot which the Lobos shoot 35.3% from. The Bulldogs have shown stretches where they have struggled to guard the three point line. Fresno State is 0-2 when they give up 70 points or more and the Lobos are averaging 77.6 ppg.
Keys for Fresno State:
The Bulldogs can’t take this New Mexico squad lightly as they have given some trouble to the top teams in the Mountain West. In fact, the Dogs are only 2-11 at the pit and their last win there came in 2019. A key for the Bulldogs is going to be limiting the three-point shot. New Mexico Averages 8.7 threes per game as the Dogs only give up 6.8 threes per game. Rebounding and scoring in transition will be another key for the Bulldogs. Lobos give up 40.1rpg which ranks last in the conference. The Dogs have to control the boards and push the ball to make the offensive game much easier.
On offense, Fresno State needs more from Anthony Holland who is averaging 8.9ppg. The eyes will be on Orlando Robinson but if the Bulldogs can get another consistent scorer this offense will be much more efficient. Hill, Stroud, and Holland have all had games where they led the Dogs in scoring. Now the question is can they consistently bring that scoring?
Will the Bulldogs get their first win at Pit since 2019 and third ever? Can the New Mexico Lobos get their first conference win of the Season? This game could be much closer than many people think.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1361]