Category

Feature

Nov 16
0

Toughness won as Fresno State drowns Cowboys 24-3

By | Feature, Football | No Comments

The season has not been perfect, but with only two games left to play, the Fresno State Bulldogs (7-3, 4-2) are right in the thick of the race for the Mountain West Championship game in December. 

In the thick of the rain, the ‘Dogs defeated Wyoming 24-3 late Saturday night behind a strong rushing attack and gritty defense

Linebacker Tytus Khajavi said after the game that special teams coach John Baxter told the team pregame, “I don’t care if we see Noah’s Ark going down the ramp, we’re going to play some Bulldog football.”

And Bulldog football they did, the defense in particular was effective limiting the Cowboys to just 184 yards of total offense and an interception. 

Khajavi led the defense with six tackles, including a sack. While he wasn’t interested in talking about his individual performance, the Clovis West alum did say that the win gave the team a lot of momentum. 

“It’s not an individual game. I don’t see myself better than anybody on the field. 11 men on defense. I just want to do my part and execute it and then see success for our defense,” Khajavi said. 

If the Bulldogs win out, they may have a chance at redemption with rival San Diego State in December. With the win, the ‘Dogs are currently tied for second place in the Mountain West Conference standings. They also hold tiebreakers over both Hawaii and Boise State. 

Head Coach Matt Entz said after the game that he was encouraged by the win and is excited to see the team continue to grow down the stretch. 

“Can we be better? We sure can. I’m not satisfied, but seven wins is a good starting spot. We got an opportunity to win a couple more this year,” Entz said. 

What happened 

Fresno State used a 10-play, 73-yard opening drive, capped off by a 12-yard rush to the left corner of the end zone by sophomore Bryson Donelson to get on the board early. After a pair of penalties, kicker Dylan Lynch nailed the point after to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead. 

The Cowboys ran twice with running back Samuel Harris before quarterback Kaden Anderson gained a first down, courtesy of a sneak up the middle. The following play, Anderson eluded a Bulldog pass rush before lofting a ball downfield, finding wideout Chris Durr Jr. open for a 40-yard gain. It set up a 41-yard field goal for Wyoming kicker Erik Sandvik (6:39 remaining in the first quarter). 

That was the last time either team scored until 26 seconds left in the first half, when Lynch nailed a 40-yard field goal, finishing off an 11-play drive. 

Neither team was able to muster much offensively, with Fresno State outgaining Wyoming 156-73 in total first half yards. This was especially apparent in the passing department, with neither team throwing for 50 yards in the first half. 

“Those kids are having fun playing football. You see it every day. They’ve got great energy. We’re playing with a lot of people. So there’s a lot of guys that are engaged on a weekly basis, probably playing 8-10 defensive lineman. We’re playing four linebackers, a ton of guys in the secondary,” Entz said.

The second half looked awfully similar to the first half with neither team seeming to be able to move the ball down the field. Wyoming gave the ball to Fresno State on the Bulldog 36 yard line with just under 11 minutes to go in the third quarter. 

The Bulldogs methodically moved the ball down the field using over eight minutes of play clock on a 16-play drive, including four first downs. Unfortunately for Fresno State, it resulted in no points on a missed 27-yard FG try from Lynch. 

Wyoming got into Fresno State territory early in the fourth quarter thanks to a pair of big runs from Harris. Aiming to make a big play, Anderson looked for wide receiver Jackson Holman deep over the middle of the field, only to be intercepted by Bulldogs corner Al’zillion Hamilton. 

On the very first play of the drive, Fresno State running back Johnathan Arceneaux got loose on the outside, running 58 yards down the right side of the field for a Bulldog touchdown, giving them a 17-3 lead. It was the second touchdown for Arceanaux’s career, a pivotal one for the senior.

“He has tremendous value, not just from the running back room, but a great leader on our football team. He broke the team down just a second ago in the locker room, and it was fun to see him get his moment there tonight,” Entz said. 

It was the ‘cherry on top’ for a classic Matt Entz football game, tough defense and nose to the ground defense. 

On a 2nd and 13 with four minutes remaining, Anderson was sacked by Bulldogs fifth year senior Julius Gandy. Two plays later, the Cowboys turned it over on downs.

Carson Conklin found Josiah Freeman in the left corner of the end zone in the final minutes to extend the Bulldogs lead to 24-3, and secure Conklin’s first touchdown pass as a Bulldog. 

The sophomore transfer completed 12-of-27 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. Noteworthy, for the second straight game, he led an offense that did not commit a turnover. 

Key players

  • Rayshon “Speedy” Luke (FS): 16 carries, 92 yards, 3 receptions, 16 receiving yards
  • Al’zillion Hamilton (FS): 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 1 BrUp
  • Samuel Harris (WYO): 12 carries, 96 yards
  • Evan Eller (WYO): 9 tackles, 1 TFL

What’s next

The Bulldogs will stay home this next week, hosting the Utah State Aggies for the sixth and final home game of the 2025 season on Senior night. 

Kickoff for next Saturday, Nov. 22, is set for 7:30 p.m. For those that cannot make it to Valley Children’s Stadium, the game will also be available to watch on CBS Sports Network. 

In addition to honoring the team’s seniors, Saturday is Boots and Buckles Night and whiteout The team will wear all-white uniforms with Green-V lettering on both the jersey numbers and the helmets in recognition of the Central Valley’s rich agriculture. Click here for a uniform preview. 

Fresno State will finish the regular season at San Jose State (kickoff TBA) on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Story written by Al Scott, cover photo by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine)

Nov 13
0

Preview: Dogs set to host Wyoming with season on the line

By | Feature, Football | No Comments

The third and final bye week of the season has finally passed and the Fresno State football team (6-3, 3-2) has three games left in its quest to return to the conference title game in its final season in the Mountain West.

Head Coach Matt Entz is eager to get back on the gridiron. 

“I was bored to death on Saturday,” Entz said. 

While the Bulldogs were resting up, Hawaii upset San Diego State and both Utah State (51-14 W vs Nevada) and UNLV (42-10 W at Colorado State) had huge wins to make things complicated down the stretch. 

With three weeks left to play, seven teams are within a game of each other atop the MWC and still in contention of hosting the conference title game in early December. 

“You have to be prepared, especially when you go on the road. Road victories are hard to come by in this league, and so you have to make sure that you’re fully prepared in all levels, in all three areas, and make sure that your kids are aware of the kind of the traps that are out there,” Entz said.

He added that the ‘parity’ is exciting but that his focus remains that of Fresno State and not on other schools. 

“Worry about us, we have to take them one at a time. You let in those outside distractions, and I think you’re setting yourself up,” Entz said. 

What’s next

The Bulldogs final three games are all in California, with the next two Saturdays hosting Wyoming (Nov. 15) at 7:30 p.m. and Utah State (Nov. 22) before wrapping up the regular season in Silicon Valley to take on rival San Jose State (Nov. 29). 

Welcoming the Cowboys

On Saturday, Fresno State (3.5 point favorites) will host the Wyoming Cowboys for the 16th matchup in program history, with the ‘Dogs leading the series 9-6 including a 6-1 record at home. 

It will also mark the 45th anniversary of the game played at what now is called Valley Children’s Stadium. The Bulldogs beat Montana State 21-14 on Nov. 15, 1980 to open up Bulldog Stadium. 

The Cowboys have been held to seven or fewer points in four of its last five meetings with Fresno State, the only exception being the Cowboys 24-19 win over Fresno State in Laramie, Wyoming in Oct. of 2023. 

Like the Bulldogs, this year’s Cowboys team presents a strong rushing attack, averaging 149.7 yards a game on the ground with three running backs with at least 321 rushing yards this season. Samuel Harris leads that group with 450 yards on 85 carries in 2025. 

Their offense is led by sophomore quarterback Kaden Anderson, who’s completed 58.7% of passes for 1,727 yards this season with 11:9 TD/INT. 

Like Fresno State starting quarterback Carson Conklin, Anderson struggled last time out, completing just 12-of-24 passes for just 93 yards, while throwing three interceptions. 

His favorite target is sophomore speedster Chris Durr Jr. who has 37 catches for 398 yards through the air and four touchdown receptions. 

Defensively, Wyoming is allowing 20.2 points per game and 348 yards per game. Nose tackle Ben Florentine (25 tackles, 4 sacks) and linebacker Brayden Johnson (54 tackles, two interceptions) lead an experienced and talented defense. 

Forcing the issue on defense

Following the 30-7 win over Boise State, Nick Benedetto (MWC Coordinator of the Week) and nickel Simeon Harris (MWC Defensive Player of the Week) were both honored for their efforts. 

Harris had six tackles in the win, including three tackles for loss and a strip sack. He also had an interception, 3 of 12 picks (t-1st in MW, Top 10 in FBS) by the Bulldog defense this season. 

The Utah State transfer has had a “No Panic” mantra throughout the year, one that he shares with his teammates. 

“I think it’s his way of just kind of circling the wagons and saying, hey, the most important people are the ones that are in this {locker room}…we’re going to continue to keep growing, keep building, because there’s still better football out there for the Bulldogs,” Entz said. 

The Bulldogs as a team have made things tough on opposing offenses, especially in regards to taking care of the football. Fresno State is second (SDSU) in the conference at forcing turnovers. 

“I think if you’re plus three, you win 80% of the games. If you’re plus one, you win 60% so I think statistically, it tells you that you have to protect the football, the ball is the program, and on defense and special teams, you have to find ways to get your opponent to put it on the ground,” Entz said. 

Fresno State is 4-0 this season when winning the turnover battle, including 3-0 when forcing at least three turnovers. 

Entz added that Coach Benedetto starts each practice with some sort of ball security and or tackling circuit, ‘just to re-emphasize the little things’ on a daily basis.

Junior defensive lineman Jahzon Jacks currently leads the FBS in fumble recoveries with four, a stat that his coach says is not luck. 

“Our team has heard me say that your value is determined by the distance from you and the ball. (The fumble recoveries) tell me that he’s around the football a lot. It’s hard to take those guys off the field,” Entz said. 

What to know for Saturday

Saturday’s matchup with the Cowboys is big for Fresno State. They likely need to win out for an opportunity to play in the title game at the end of the year. 

Beyond that, the Bulldogs will be celebrating the rich Native American culture in the Central Valley. The first 7,500 fans in attendance will also receive a Timeout bobblehead, courtesy of Table Mountain Casino. 

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. with a good chance of rain, so fans should come prepared with the proper attire to stay warm and dry as much as possible. 

Final Prediction: Fresno State wins 20-17

Story written by Al Scott, cover photo by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine)

Nov 12
0

UCSD stifles Bulldogs late comeback attempt

By | Basketball, Feature | No Comments

The Fresno State men’s basketball team (2-2) falls to the University of California, San Diego (3-0) in a 78-73 loss on Wednesday evening. 

After making the game competitive halfway through the second half, and even taking a brief lead, the Bulldogs were unable to complete the 13 point comeback.

After a slow start, guard Zaon Collins helped the Bulldogs erase the 13 point deficit with his two-way performance, recording seven of his nine points and three of his four steals in the second half—something that head coach Vance Walberg wants to see more of.

“Zaon should be giving us 14, 15 points a game—six, seven, eight, assists a game—that’s what I expect from him, I think he’s that good.” Walberg said. “I just gotta find a way to open up a few more things for him.”

The Bulldogs also had strong play off the bench, with 33 of the 73 points coming from the second unit—with Mani contributing 21 points. 

Guard Bastien Rieber, despite it not showing up in the box score, made a big impact off the bench with his grit on both ends on the floor. 

“[Rieber] is going to give you everything he’s got everytime—he’s just a tough little son of a gun,” Walberg said.

Key stats

  • Zaon Collins (FS): 9 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals.
  • Jac Mani (FS): 21 points (8-9 fg, 2-3 3fg), 7 rebounds.
  • Leo Beath (UCSD): 22 points, 5-10 from three, 7 rebounds, 2 assists.
  • Tom Beattie (UCSD): 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists.

What happened

The Bulldogs open the game with a slow start on offense with four early turnovers, and the Tritons capitalize with an 11-5 lead six minutes into the game.

The Bulldogs respond with grit on both ends, chasing loose balls, and following a putback by Mani and a three-pointer from guard Bastien Rieber, the ‘Dogs now trail 11-10.

The grit continued to be on display, but after chasing a loose ball, guard Zaon Collins exited the game grabbing his left shoulder—but would come back a few possessions later donning tape.

While Collins was out, the guard Tom Beattie and the Tritons kept the Bulldogs’ defense honest, draining shots from beyond-the-arch and doing damage in the paint to add to their 19-16 lead 11 minutes into the first half. 

However, the Bulldogs’ second unit would provide a spark, led by Mani’s offense and Reiber’s spirit, who combined for 15 points. But, it wasn’t enough, as the Tritons continued to work the paint to go up 42-30 heading into halftime.

The second half was headlined by the performance from Collins on both ends of the floor. Collins scored nine points midway through the half, came away with three steals, and four assists to help tie the game 57-57. 

Mani also pitched in, scoring 10 points on 4-4 shooting from the field and 2-2 from three-point range midway through the half.

But, the play from Beattie and forward Leo Beath—who combined for 13 points—was enough to keep the Tritons afloat and battle through the Bulldogs’ barrage on offense to tie the game 62-62.

To close out the game, Beath continued his strong performance to help the Tritons pull away with the 

What’s next

The Bulldogs’ showcase of resilience in this game was something that Walberg values, and called it something to build on. 

“The beauty of what we have this year is we got guys that care and they want to get better,” Walberg said. “I think you’re going to see that progression.”

The Bulldogs continue their home stand as they look to bounce back against Utah Valley University on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Save Mart Center.

Story written by Vincent Ordonio, cover photo by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine)

Nov 11
0

‘Dogs continue to grow with win over Seattle

By | Basketball, Feature | No Comments

The ‘Mayhem’ era is off to a great start with the Fresno State (3-0) women’s basketball team defeating Seattle University on Tuesday night 78 to 53. 

Alaska Anchorage transfers Emilia Long and Ashlyn Rean combined for 40 points on 70% shooting from the field. The coach they followed from Alaska to Fresno isn’t surprised. 

“They’re proving there’s not a big difference from an elite Division II player to a mid-major player,” Head Coach Ryan McCarthy said after the game. 

Fresno State shot 51.6% from the field as a team and outrebounded the Redhawks 31-23 in the victory. 

Key Players

  • Emilia Long (FS): 21 points (10-14 FG), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal. 
  • Ashlyn Rean (FS): 19 points (9-13), 7 rebounds, 1 steal.
  • Tamia Stricklin (SEA): 9 points (3-6), 5 rebounds, 1 steal.

What happened 

Emilia Long does a lot of the things for the Bulldog basketball team, which was very apparent early in the first quarter on Tuesday night. 

“Millie’s an elite athlete, and she’s grown into a really good basketball player,” McCarthy said. 

The 5’9 point guard from Port Angeles, Washington opened the game with a jumper, then proceeded to block a shot at the other end. A few minutes later, Long maneuvered through the key for a layup over two Redhawk defenders. She then nailed a three-pointer at the top of the key on the next possession, giving the ‘Dogs an 11-2 lead and forcing a Seattle timeout. 

“It wasn’t my best game defensively,” Long said. “it was nice to hit some shots early on, like if you hit that first shot, then you can get things going pretty easily.”

Fresno State extended its lead to 24-10 thanks to forcing a pair of turnovers and a pair of layups from forward Avery Watkins. Forward Ashlyn Rean capped off the 26-12 quarter with a layup. 

Long was quite active again in the second, sparking a 16-5 run, offensively and defensively. She finished the half with 13 points, on 6-of-7 shooting from the field. 

Rean added 10 points and four rebounds as well to give the ‘Dogs a 44-25 lead. The Redhawks were led by Jana Vesic, who scored seven points off the bench. 

The Bulldogs started out cold in the second half, allowing Seattle to open with a 7-2 run. The ‘Dogs responded with a 16-3 run to close the third quarter, leading 62-35. 

Seattle started out hot again in the fourth quarter with an 8-1 run, including four points from Ella Brubaker (finished with 8 points).

Despite holding a 20+ lead for most of the second half, McCarthy didn’t let off the gas pedal. 

“Whether you’re up by 30 or down by 30, you know, I just think of staying in that process mindset. You know that it is a process, and it is about growth,” McCarthy said.

His players have responded well to having a passionate coach.

“It gets us going, it lights a fire under us to never get comfortable. It doesn’t matter what the score is. We have a standard that we have to reach every day, and if we don’t hit that standard, then it’s just not good enough,” Long said. “It’s a growth mindset.”

The Bulldogs went on to win 78-53. 

What’s Next

The Bulldogs will be on the road for nearly a month before hosting Pepperdine on Dec. 6 at the Save Mart Center. 

In the meantime, McCarthy’s squad will face at least five teams including Brigham Young University, Washington and Santa Clara. 

“We’re going to play some really, really good basketball teams, and it’s going to be a good challenge,” McCarthy said. “The road sometimes can be an advantage. You get to control sleep patterns, you get to control what they eat. You get to control their social life. We want to come into this road trip, going in as one team, and regardless of whatever the outcome is in those three contests, to come out on the other end is a better basketball team.”

Step one is facing BYU this Saturday, with tipoff at 1 p.m.

Nov 08
0

Fresno State rides second half wave in win over Beach

By | Basketball, Feature | No Comments

Winning college basketball games isn’t easy, and the wins have come few and far between for Fresno State over the last few years. 

After today’s game, Head Coach Vance Walberg was still lamenting the loss Wednesday to USC Upstate. 

“I freaking hate losing. I want to win every gosh darn game. Wednesday hurt me. Wednesday really, really hurt,” Walberg said. 

Fortunately for Walberg, his team turned the page and easily handled Long Beach State in a Saturday afternoon of hoops at the Save Mart Center, with a 82-62 win over the Beach. 

“I thought the effort, especially on the defensive side, was phenomenal. The first half offensively, we were really struggling. Couldn’t really do too much, but I thought our defense kept us in the game,” Walberg said. 

The Bulldogs held the Beach to 7-of-27 shooting from the field in the first half, while forcing 10 turnovers. Offensively, the ‘Dogs made 15-of-24 shots, including 8-of-14 from beyond the arc. 

Grad transfer Jake Heidbreder led the way for the Bulldogs again offensively, making 8-of-13 shots for 24 points to go with three assists and a pair of steals. 

“Jake is Jake, he just finds a way to move, keep cutting,” Walberg said. “When we go down, I’m asking {Wilson Jacques} ‘just go find Jake’s man. Let’s find a pin down that’s getting in flow,’ because just that alone is going to open up so many different things.”

They were especially effective in the second half in that plan, with Heidbreder scoring 16 points, making shots while opening up opportunities for other guys to make an impact. 

Key Players

  • Jake Heidbreder (FS): 24 points (8-13), 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals. 
  • Wilson Jacques (FS): 12 points (4-7), 13 rebounds, 1 block, 2 steals. 
  • Petar Majstorovic (LBSU): 9 points (4-10), 6 rebounds, 2 assists. 

What happened 

Walberg opted to switch the lineup up a bit, replacing big man Makhan Diouf with Cameron Faas, a transfer senior. 

The Bulldogs missed 6-of-7 shots to begin the game before a nice jumpshot by Zaon Collins to tie the game 4-4 (15:00 remaining). A couple plays later, Gavin Sykes took advantage of a Bulldog turnover, draining a shot from distance. 

A minute later, DJ Stickman forced a steal before getting the ball to Collins who laid in the ‘Dogs third basket of the game. A forced turnover on the following possession forced the Beach to foul and call timeout. 

Stickman, a true freshman and former Clovis West standout, has been under Walberg’s tutelage for most of his basketball journey. The ‘athletic freak’ as his coach called him after the game, continues to get minutes (17 on Saturday) thanks to his defense and playmaking, beyond the stat sheet. 

“He’s an athletic freak,” Walberg said. “I’ve had him for eight years, so he knows exactly my expectations, and I feel a bit more comfortable with him out there. I know he’s going to play his butt on defense. I know he’s going to be solid. I know he’s going to rebound, and if he puts a ball in one or two times, that’s a big bonus.”

Walberg added that before the game, he told Stickman DJ ‘I don’t care how many fouls you have, just get your butt out there. Give me the defense I know you can do.’

The Bulldogs would keep Long Beach State scoreless for six-and-a-half minutes, led by Stickman and Wilson Jaques, each forcing a steal during that period. 

Jacques in particular was critical to the ‘Dogs win on Saturday, posting the first double-double of the season for Fresno State. He took accountability after the game for some of his own struggles.

“I was so mad at myself, because I know I can do a lot better,” Jaques said. 

The French freshman has started to adapt but acknowledges that transitioning to Walberg’s offense has not always been easy. He also said that he sees the potential though in this team. 

“It was kind of complicated, because you got a particular way to play. But I am still learning, I’m still making some mistakes. I gotta do a better job to find Jake and other guys,” Jacques said. “One of the things wonderful with this team is that we still improve, we still have so many things that we can do better.” 

Heidbreder nailed a three-pointer from the left wing to give the Bulldogs a 25-15 lead with 4:03 remaining in the first half. 

Fresno State went into halftime up 28-20, despite making just 1-of-9 threes in the first half. 

That poor shooting A trio of threes from Cameron Faas (two) and DeShawn Gory out of the break gave the Bulldogs 37-24 lead less than two minutes into a timeout, forcing a Beach timeout. Faas hit another three a few minutes later. 

Havoc defense, sound shooting and resilience led to a 34-16 run for the Bulldogs across 10 minutes of play, capped off by a pair of free throws from Jac Mani to give Fresno State a commanding 59-36 lead with 11:09 remaining in the second half.

On Wednesday, the Bulldogs started out strong but fell flat. They made sure to correct that.

“You just can’t give games away at this level. I felt like we gave that game away. I thought we played hard, but there’s just a lot of little freaky things that happened. I just felt today that we played so much harder, and we can play with today’s intensity. You know, I think good things will happen, and it’s my job to make sure they do,” Walberg said. 

The big lead at the end of the game allowed Walberg to get minutes for some guys at the end of the bench including Troy Jenkins and newcomers Matteo Porter and Aram Soqui Urbano. 

The Bulldogs went on to win 82-62, shooting 50% from the field and outrebounding the Beach 38-26. 

“This is a completely different team, I’ll tell you. We had a lot of good kids last year. We have a lot of really good kids this year, but this group plays as a team. They share the bond,” Walberg said. 

What’s Next

The ‘Dogs will host the Tritons of UC San Diego this coming Wednesday. 

UCSD (1-0) got off to a hot start to the season with a 105-73 victory over La Verne on Monday, after making the NCAA tournament last season, following their victory in the Big West conference tournament. Forward Leo Beath scored 24 points in just 25 minutes to lead them in scoring. 

“Look at the next couple games that we have. You got UCSD. You got Utah Valley, who’s always there, they are picked to win their league. Then you got Stephen F Austin, so, I mean, we got a few good ones coming up. I think it’s gonna be a nice challenge for us,” Walberg said. 

UCSD will host Houston Christian tonight before coming to Fresno. Wednesday’ game will mark the fourth of eight home games in November for the Bulldogs. Tipoff at the Save Mart Center is set for 6 p.m. 

Nov 05
0
Photo by Vincent Ordonio (FSM).

The ‘disappointing’ ‘Dogs drop heartbreaker to USC Upstate

By | Basketball, Feature | No Comments

A new season brings a fresh start and for the Fresno State men’s basketball team, that means hope and unfortunately more disappointment to the 2025-26 season. 

After an 88-51 throttling over Fresno Pacific to begin the season on Monday, the Bulldogs struggled to hit shots down the stretch, dropping a “buy game” to the USC Upstate Spartans 67-66 seconds on Wednesday evening at the Save Mart Center. 

Fresno State Head Coach Vance Walberg spoke to the media after the game, frustrated and ‘disappointed’ by his team’s showing. 

“We’re a lot better than that…we should’ve been up 15, 17, probably 20 points,” Walberg said. “We left a lot of points on the board.

The Bulldogs struggled to shoot the basketball, making just 22-of-62 shots and 7-of-30 from beyond the arc. It was particularly bad in the second half when they made just 3-of-15 three-point attempts.

He implores fans to ‘keep believing’ and it will ‘take some time’ for the Bulldogs to get to where they want to be.

Key Players

  • Zaon Collins (FS): 18 points (8-14), 4 rebounds, 3 assists
  • Jake Heidbreder (FS): 12 points (3-13), 2 steals.
  • Karmani Gregory (USC Upstate): 15 points (6-14), 3 assists.
  • Mason Bendinger (USC Upstate): 13 points (6-11), 8 rebounds, 2 steals. 

What happened 

After “not being aggressive enough” for his Walberg’s liking on Monday, Fresno State starting point guard Zaon Collins came out of the gate with a point of emphasis to get to the basket. Collins would score eight of the Bulldogs first 15 points, including a second-chance jumper with 13:35 left in the first half to give the ‘Dogs a 15-6 lead. 

Almost a minute later, Bulldogs forward DeShawn Gory and Spartans guard Carmelo Adkins traded a pair of threes. Adkins pulled up for another jumpshot on the next possession. He would score 10 points off the bench to lead the Spartans in first half scoring. 

Collins had some familiar faces on the court with him, facing off against former Salt Lake City Community College teammates Coen Collier and Mason Bendinger. 

The latter of which, made a jumpshot to pull the Spartans with two points with 9:18 remaining, the closest they would get within the Bulldogs prior to halftime. 

The ‘Dogs would go on a 17-7 run, extending its lead to 12 including a three pointer in the final minute of the half from forward Jac Mani. A free throw from Adkins made it 36-25 Bulldogs going into halftime. 

Bulldog guard Jake Heidbreder had a quiet first half scoring just four points in 17 minutes, being held in check. Two minutes into the half, the Clemson transfer more than doubled his scoring including a second-chance three to give the ‘Dogs a 40-31 lead. 

Some sloppy play combined with the hot hand of Spartans guard Karmani Gregory allowed USC Upstate to draw itself back into the game. A fastbreak three for the redshirt junior brought the score within one point before a three from Heidbreder made it 52-48 (11:24 left in half). 

USC Upstate wouldn’t go away, going on a 15-9 run including a trio of baskets and a pair of free throws from Bendinger, including a pair over Collins. 

A jumper at the top of the key for Bendinger forced a timeout from Walberg. Three missed shots from the Bulldogs called for another timeout (1:23 remaining). 

The Bulldogs got the ball in the final few seconds down three, after an intentional foul, Bulldog freshman Aram Soqui Urbano nailed a pair of free throws to make it 67-66. The Bulldogs fouled with 1.4 seconds left and after a missed free throw got the ball with 1 second.

Collins put up a prayer from beyond half court but to no luck. 

USC Upstate had three players with 13+ points including Gregory, who scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half. Adkins (13 points, 8 rebounds) and Bendinger (14 points) scored in double figures as well for the Spartans. Jafeth Martinez had three blocks in 19 minutes off the bench. 

Collins made 8-of-14 shots to lead the Bulldogs in scoring with 18 points. He also had four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Heidbreder (12 points) was the only other Bulldog to score more than eight points. The fifth-year senior made 3-of-13 from the field, all three makes coming from beyond the arc. He also had two steals. 

Walberg said after the game that getting Heidbreder more opportunities is paramount to the success of the team. 

“We have to find the right time and the right place to be able to get him the ball. And then the biggest, the best way we want to try to do that is in transition and flow. And we’re still struggling on how to do that. He also needs to get to the free throw line a lot more,” Walberg said. 

What’s Next

Walberg is ready to turn the page.

“It’s done. It’s over with. Tomorrow, when we get on that floor, we’re thinking, Long Beach State. Hopefully we learn from this,” Walberg said. 

The ‘Dogs will host the Beach this Saturday afternoon. LBSU (0-1) began its season on Tuesday at San Diego State, falling 77-45 to the Aztecs. Forward Petar Majstorovic (13 points, 10 rebounds) was the only Beach player to score in double figures. 

Saturday’s game will mark the third of eight home games in November for the Bulldogs. Tipoff at the Save Mart Center is set for 2 p.m. 

Nov 03
0

‘Dogs earn first win in the “McCarthy Era”, beating FPU 87-38

By | Basketball, Feature | No Comments

Fresno State women’s basketball earns their first win in the “McCarthy Era” against Fresno Pacific University, beating the Sunbirds 87-38 on Monday, Nov 3 at the Save Mart Center. 

The win was spearheaded by the Bulldogs’ suffocating defense, which resulted in 22 steals and  37 Sunbird turnovers. The ‘Dogs also got strong guard play from guards Dane Powell and Emilia Long, something head coach Ryan McCarthy valued. 

“The guards did a really good job—this is as offensively efficient as we’ve seen them,” McCarthy said. “Our biggest thing was taking care of the ball and not giving it to the other team.”

McCarthy also liked their effort on the defensive end, noting that’s going to be the expectation every night. 

“I thought we were really good defensively, we pretty much dominated—thats the expectation every night,” McCarthy said.

The Bulldogs’ effort on the court was another highlight of the game—whether it was on loose balls, offensive rebounds, or picking up full-court. 

“That’s the standard of this program, if you don’t get on the fifty-fifty’s you’re going to have a longer practice,” McCarthy said. “If we can’t win those, we can’t have “mayhem” on our shirts.”

Key stats

  • Danae Powell: 18 points (8-12),  3 assists, 4 steals.
  • Jaisa Gamble:18 points (8-12), 3 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals.
  • Emilia Long: 14 points (6-12), 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals.

What happened

To open the game, the Bulldogs showed an immediate full-court press upon tip-off and that effort was on display throughout the first quarter—diving on loose balls, resulting in 9 steals and 12 Sunbird turnovers

The Bulldogs also had the size advantage, and it showed on the boards, grabbing 19 rebounds and 8 offensive rebounds for seven second chance points to add to the ‘Dogs’ 21-6 first quarter.

The second quarter belonged to the Bulldogs, holding the Sunbirds to zero points (0-14) and seven second quarter turnovers. On top of that, the ‘Dogs also tested the paint defense of the Sunbirds, and passed, scoring 12 of their 21 second quarter points in the paint en route to their 42-6 lead heading into halftime. 

In the third quarter, momentum switched sides, with the Sunbirds finding some rhythm of their own. 

The Sunbirds outscored the Bulldogs 21-19, doing their damage in the paint (8 paint points) and on the defensive end as they came away with a blocked shot to go with their two steals. But the Sunbirds still found themselves in a 61-27 hole.

To close the game, the Bulldogs found their footing, with their five steals and Gamble scoring 14 of the ‘Dogs’ 12 points.

In the fourth quarter, Gamble found herself running the offense at times as she looked to make the right play. 

“I think I’m just looking for the advantage—the advantage means getting a step on the offense and getting into that domino effect where we can keep going at them,” Gamble said. 

What’s next

The Bulldogs are on the road as they take on California State University, Bakersfield on Friday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m. They will return home to the Save Mart Center on Tuesday, Nov. 11, with tipoff at 6:30 p.m.

Recap by Vincent Ordonio (Fresno Sports Magazine)

Oct 24
0

Preview: ‘Dogs look to take back Oil Can against San Diego State

By | Feature | No Comments

The Fresno State (5-2) football team welcomes San Diego State (5-1) for its first and only home rivalry game of the 2025 season. 

Football at Valley Children’s Stadium (VCS) this Saturday will look a bit different than it usually does. Not only are the Bulldogs donning all-black uniforms, kickoff will be at 12:30 p.m. in the afternoon with the game being broadcasted on Fox Sports 1. 

What’s at stake?

A win for either team would mean that the winning school would 1) reach bowl game eligibility and 2) would control its own destiny towards a spot in the Mountain West Conference (MWC) championship game at the end of the season. 

The winner would also get to hoist the honorable Oil Can trophy.

Battle for the Oil Can

Saturday will be the 63rd meeting between the two schools, the second most-played opponent (San Jose State) in program history. Despite being 27-31-4 during the rivalry; Fresno State has won seven of its last 11 games against SDSU since moving to the MW, including four of its five matchups at VCS. 

The trophy itself stems from the discovery of an old oil can from Fresno (circa 1935) that was rediscovered at San Diego State during a campus building project. 

The Aztecs are currently 3-point favorites to win on Saturday.

Fresno State Head Coach Matt Entz understands though that this Aztec team has certainly upped its level of play since the last time they came to Fresno.

“Great opportunity, in my opinion, they’re probably the best team we play and have faced since Kansas. I have a ton of respect for what Coach Lewis has done,” Entz said on Monday morning. “I know Sean is going to challenge you both offensively and defensively. You can tell they’ve just continued to grow. They’ve grown in personnel, but also you can tell the environment is that of learning, those kids have gotten a ton better from year one to year two.”

Tedford Legacy Game

Fresno State will honor former Bulldog quarterback and head coach Jeff Tedford at halftime as he joins the Ring of Honor, becoming the 3rd coach and 13th overall member in the exclusive club. 

Over two head coaching stints in five years, he amassed a 45-22 overall record and four bowl wins. 

Under his leadership, the Bulldogs achieved three 10‑win seasons, three West Division titles, two Mountain West titles, four bowl games and two AP Top‑25 finishes.

“Coach Tedford has been tremendous. He’s been a huge support and helped me get my feet on the ground,” Entz says. 

Keys to victory for the ‘Dogs

Taking care of the football. The Bulldogs are 4-0 this season when committing two or less turnovers. E.J. Warner has played a lot of football. In fact, he is the only player in the country with over 10,000 career passing yards. Making sure the ball is going to his team is another conversation though and one that ought to be discussed. Entz says EJ Warner is still his Quarterback, but says he needs “to have more skin like a duck.”

“He needs to let some things go. I worry that when things compound, when he has one bad play, one turns into two. Turn two turns into four.”

Warner had four turnovers last time out, including three interceptions (nine this season). The Fresno State offense is at its best when the ground game is working. In order for that to happen, they need to be able to take care of the football and that includes Warner being able to throw the ball on long downs to extend drives. 

Coming out of the second half on a strong note. The Bulldogs have yet to score points on a drive coming out in the third quarter this season. Doing so Saturday could go a long way to setting the tone in the second half to finish the game on a strong note. 

Getting the Black Wave…yes, black, to take over. For the second straight year, Fresno State players and fans will be donning all black for its homecoming game, which seems to be becoming an annual tradition. The Red Wave has been averaging nearly 40,000 fans a game this season, eclipsing the mark for the first time this season against Nevada on Oct. 4. That mark is expected to hit again against San Diego State.

Despite the impressive numbers, keeping fans in the stands after halftime has been an ongoing issue. Perhaps the earlier start time will keep fans in their seats long enough to make a difference late in the game. 

X-factors 

Josiah Freeman (Fresno State) – The Bulldog wideout has 10 receptions for 129 yards and four touchdowns in his last two games, becoming the first ‘Dog since Jalen Cropper in 2022 to score 2+ TD’s in back-to-back games. 

Trey White (San Diego State) – The Aztec junior defensive end is a “future player on Sundays” as Entz put it on Monday. White has 25 total tackles on the season, including four sacks and six tackles for loss. He has an opportunity to make things extremely uncomfortable for a Bulldog offensive line that has been shaken up during the month of October. 

Chris Johnson (San Diego State) – The Aztec was recently named to the Associated Press Midseason All-American Team after a strong start to the season (27 TKL / 1 TFL / 3 INT / 3 PD). Per PFF, Johnson’s 15.0 passer rating when targeted is the second best mark in the FBS among cornerbacks. 

Injury report

Aztec running back Christian Washington (198 rushing yards, 3 total TD’s) and wide receiver Jacob Bostic are both questionable to play. 

Fresno State linebacker K’Vion Thunderbird has been officially ruled out. Wideout Ezekiel Avit is also questionable to play. 

Click here for full injury report. 

Cover photo provided by Fresno State.