The Fresno State men’s basketball team (6-7) have yet to earn their first conference win in a 72-63 loss to Utah State University (11-1) on Dec. 30 at the Save Mart Center.
In a game that started off slow for the Bulldogs, guard Bastien Rieber was an immediate spark off the bench as well as throughout the game, a trend head Coach Vance Walberg sees everyday in practice.
“Even when you don’t play, I want you to understand you’re still valuable,” Walberg said. “There’s times when basketball players play three to six minutes, but every practice, [Rieber] still comes out and busts his tail.”
Another highlight for the Bulldogs was center Wilson Jacques, who recorded his sixth double-double of the season and extended his double-double streak to five straight games.
Jacques made a living in the post, where he created most of his points, and crashed the boards on both ends of the floor—something Walberg values.
“Wilson probably jumps that high, his heart’s this big,” Walberg said. “He’s a stud, he’s a force inside—it’s a big load for people to have to carry. We just got to get some more help around and knock a few more outside shots and I think we’ll open up the inside.”
The Aggies opened the game with a full-court press, which gave the Bulldogs fits on offense, causing five early turnovers and forcing the ‘Dogs into poor shot selection. The Aggies also used this intensity on offense, generating points off paint touches and kickouts to gain the early 16-8 lead.
10 minutes into the game, Rieber checked in and provided an immediate spark, forcing two turnovers and timely cuts to the basket. His effort was contagious as Jacques crashed the boards on both ends of the floor to help cut into the Aggies’ 18-13 lead.
But the Aggies continued to play through the number one scorer in the Mountain West, guard MJ Collins Jr. (20.1 ppg), who bloomed the Aggies lead to 35-26 heading into halftime.
Through one half, Collins Jr. leads all scorers with 10 points followed by Rieber’s 8 points—the lone bench scorer for the Bulldogs. For the Aggies, they showed a well balanced two-way effort, with eight players contributing to the scoring column and five players contributing to the team’s nine steals. The Bulldogs were spearheaded by Rieber and his ability to get to the line, shooting five of the team’s nine free-throws.
Aggies start the second half hot with the help of backcourt duo Collins Jr and Mason Falslev, but with some off-ball movement, the Bulldogs get some threes to fall from guards Jake Hiedbreder and Cameron Faas to cut the lead down to 48-40 six minutes into the quarter.
Despite the momentum and getting stops on defense, the Bulldogs struggled to capitalize on offense as they went five minutes without a made field goal—which was put to an end after a Heidbreder layup and a Jacques hook shot to trim the Aggies’ lead to 64-55.
Following the field goal drought, the Bulldogs made a late-game push led by the post play of Jacques—who was one of the lone shot-makers in the final minutes—but it wasn’t enough to halt the Aggies’ late game execution en route to their 72-63 win.
What’s next
The Bulldogs continue conference play at home against former Bulldog Elijah Price and the University of Nevada, Reno (9-3), which eliminated the ‘Dogs in the first round of the 2025 Mountain West Tournament, on Jan. 3 at 4 p.m.
Recap written by Vincent Ordonio, cover photo by Ryan Sepulveda (FSM).
Led by a relentless defense, Fresno State finishes the 2025 season at 9-4 with an 18-3 win over the RedHawks of Miami (OH) in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl. With the win, Head Coach Matt Entz joins Jeff Tedford as the only first year coaches with a bowl win in program history.
Senior corner Jakari Embry said via Instagram on Friday he “wanted that feeling again” after watching a highlight of his week two Pick-6 at Oregon State. Well he got that feeling back on Saturday, picking up an his second interception of the season and a key second-quarter fumble recovery that shifted the momentum of the game.
“I needed that interception. Just once I seen that video, it just brought back the feeling that I got from that moment. And I just was telling myself all yesterday that, like when I step on this field. I’m not leaving without anything,” Embry said.
That joy was evident in the final minutes of the game as he and teammate Deijon Laffitte were seen dancing on the sidelines.
While the victory and partying it up with Snoop Dogg was a great, Embry noted that his favorite moment of the weekend was the bonding that was shared.
“This was my first time spending the holidays without my family. At first, I didn’t know what to expect,” Embry said. “When you’re not with your family, you want to be with the football team.”
Wide receiver Josiah Freeman concurred with Embry, pointing to the brotherhood shared as something he’ll never forget.
“Just the memories you create. We weren’t home for the holidays, but we’re with some of our best friends, our close friends that went on for the rest of our life in the whole town, cracking jokes, all activities we’ve done. So we all never take it for granted, because we know this opportunity is real special for us,” Freeman said.
Entz made sure to give the two seniors praise after the game, “These guys are what’s right about college football right now,” Entz said. “These two young men up here are great representatives of what we have in a locker room full of tremendous competitors, great character, people you want to be around.”
Entz said that he was pleased with the season’s results but admits there is always room for improvement.
“Like I said, nine wins isn’t easy. Probably thought I should we should have won a couple more,” Entz said. “But we’re gonna enjoy this one.”
He added that he’s grateful for the experiences he’s made in his first year leading the Bulldogs.
“Sometimes I think I needed Fresno more than it needed me,” Entz said.
E.J. Warner (FS): 16-for-23, 214 passing yards, 1 TD
Dylan Lynch (FS): 4-for-5 field goals
Eli Blakey (Miami): 13 tackles, 1 forced fumble
Malcolm McClain (Miami): 13 tackles, 1 TFL
What Happened
After getting a stop, Miami (OH) quickly moved up the field with a pair of runs from running back Keith Reynolds for 32 and 9 yards apiece. The drive was cut short thanks to a Julius Gandy sack and a wild throw from RedHawks quarterback Thomas Gotkowski. Lou Groza award semifinalist Dom Dzioban nailed a 33-yard field goal.
After another three-and-out by the Bulldogs offense, Gotkowski took a shot down the left side of the field for Kam Perry, only to be intercepted by Fresno State cornerback Jakari Embry.
The Bulldogs best drive in the first half came early in the second quarter, spanning 15 plays for 82 yards, but resulted in a Dylan Lynch field goal after falling short in the red zone. The following drive had the same result, with the Bulldogs ending up inside the RedHawks 10 yard line, only to have to settle for a Lynch field goal.
Miami (OH) got the ball down to the Fresno State 25 yard line, threatening to take a lead before linebacker Jadon Pearson knocked the football loose from RedHawks running back Jordan Brunson, picked up by Embry.
E.J. Warner immediately found Josiah Freeman over the middle for a long 47-yard completion. Warner then found Ezekiel Avit open down the right side of the field for a 20 yard gain, giving the ‘Dogs the ball on the Miami (OH) 16-yard line with a minute remaining. Freeman finished with seven catches for 143 yards in his final game as a Bulldog. He spoke after the game on what it meant to come back.
“Coming off injury last year. I know what I wanted to do this season,” Freeman said. “I really liked how {Coach} embraced the tradition of Bulldog football. He didn’t shy away from it.”
After a pair of four yard gains, Fresno State opted to run the clock down and settle again for a Lynch field goal instead of going for six, taking a 9-3 lead into halftime.
The Bulldogs defense opened the second half with a stop, leading to a drive that looked very familiar to the three second quarter drives. Warner rolled out and found Freeman open on the right side, who swerved through the RedHawks defense for a 51-yard gain. The Bulldogs offense fell flat again in the red zone though. Lynch’s 28-yard field goal attempt missed just left though, giving Miami (OH) the ball back on Fresno State’s 20-yard line.
Fresno State took over again late in the third quarter. Facing a third-and-short, Warner scrambled up the middle for a first down. He began the fourth quarter connecting with true freshman Harold Duvall for a 17-yard gain. On the goal line later in the drive, Warner rolled out to his right to find a wide open Richie Anderson for a touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 15-3 lead (missed 2-PT conversion) with 11:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The defense held on in the fourth quarter and limited the RedHawks defense to just 192 yards of total offense. Fresno State also forced two turnovers in addition to a blocked punt on special teams to win 18-3.
“We’re family. We all know that we got each others back,” Embry said. “Once you know that the person next to you is like, ‘you’re better,’ you’re gonna do everything you can to not let them down.”
Transfer Portal
The following players have announced their intention to enter the transfer portal, which opens on Jan. 2 and runs for two weeks (last updated Dec. 27):
Quarterback Brayden Turner (4 years of eligibility remaining)
Fresno State football returns next season with four non-conference games in September of 2026, beginning with a road matchup at USC on Sept. 5th.
They will also host Sacramento State (9/12), play at San Jose State (9/19) and welcome Rice (9/26) to Valley Children’s Stadium before beginning PAC-12 play.
The Fresno State football team (8-4, 5-3 MW) has one more game left before it calls a wrap on the 2025 season. The Bulldogs under first year head coach Matt Entz will play against Miami (OH) (7-6, 6-2 MAC) on Saturday, December 27 in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented by Ginn & Juice by Dre & Snoop. Kickoff at Casino Del Sol Stadium in Tucson, AZ is set for 1:30 p.m. PT. The game will also be televised on The CW Network.
Head Coach Matt Entz said earlier this month that the team is looking forward to the change of scenery.
“Playing in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl just seems fitting…I’ve heard through the grapevine that everyone is looking forward to it. It’s something different, something new,” Entz said. “We’re excited to represent the Central Valley, the Green V and the Red Wave as we come down there.”
Fresno State will be competing in its fifth consecutive bowl game, going 3-1 the last four years. The program is 17-16 all-time in bowl games, including a 4-3 record against MAC opponents.
Saturday’s matchup will be the first ever meeting between the two programs. The RedHawks are also participating in its 5th straight bowl (2-2) and are 9-7 overall in bowls. They are 3-5 against the Mountain West all-time with all three wins coming against Colorado State, including a 43-17 win over the Rams in last year’s Arizona Bowl.
Welcome Miami
After an 0-3 start to the year, the RedHawks rallied together under Head Coach Chuck Martin (72-73 record in 12 seasons) to win seven of its final nine games in the regular season before falling 23-13 to Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference championship game on Dec. 6.
Offensively, the RedHawks present a balanced attack (25.1 PPG) averaging 196.2 yards per game through air and 152.6 per game on the ground.
The RedHawks began the season with Dequan Finn at quarterback, but he left the team in November to prepare for the NFL draft. They are expected to go with redshirt freshman quarterback Thomas Gotkowski under center on Saturday, who completed 50% of his 64 pass attempts for 503 yards and 4 TD in 4 games played (3 starts). He’s also ran 25 times for 99 yards and a score.
Miami (OH) had nine players earn All-MAC accolades this season, including 5th-year safety Eli Blakey (105 total tackles, 2 INT’s) and kicker Dom Dzioban (19-22 FG, 51 LFGM). Dzioban was named a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza Award for the second straight year.
In addition to Blakey, linebackers Corban Hondru, Jackson Kuwatch and strong safety Silas Walters also helped lead a stout defense that had 40 sacks, 50 quarterback hurries and a MAC-leading 14 interceptions (15th in the FBS) while allowing 22 points per game (43rd in FBS). That defense will be missing a few key pieces though.
Transfer portal
Edge linebacker Adam Trick (MAC first-team, who had 59 tackles, a FBS-leading 72 pressures and a team-leading 8.5 sacks, will not be playing on Saturday, along with a few other Redhawks that have expressed their intentions of entering the transfer portal, including defensive end Joshua Lukusa and starting cornerbacks Luke Evans and Mychal Yharbrough.
MAC first-team wide receiver Kam Perry (42 rec, 966 yards 6 TD) and second-team right tackle Drew Terrill also have opted out and entered the portal. Perry’s 23.0 yards per reception ranked second in the FBS this season. He had four games with 100+ receiving yards this season, including 122 against UNLV. 6 ‘5 ” sophomore wideout Cole Weaver (43 rec, 599 yards, 1 TD) should receive the largest share of targets with Perry gone.
Fresno State saw a sleuth of players enter the portal last season, which wasn’t a big surprise given the change in head coaches from Jeff Tedford to Tim Skipper to now Entz. This time around, there are still a few names (but no starters) that have announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal, which officially opens on Jan. 2, 2026, and runs for two weeks.
Linebacker Tim Thomas only played in two games this season before leaving the team due to personal reasons. Wideout Josiah Ayon, safety RL Miller and edge/defensive linemen Damarrion White and Isiah Chala Jr. have all suited up in minimal capacity, and will be looking for opportunities elsewhere next year as well. Backup quarterback Brayden Turner and defensive lineman Jack Metzler also have entered.
Arguably the biggest notable of the players leaving is safety Jayden Davis. The Fresno native (Bullard HS) suited up 33 times for the Bulldogs with several starts the last two seasons. He also had an interception at San Jose State to finish the regular season. Davis saw his playing time dip in the second half of the year though, due to the rise of Ethan Tierney. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Keys to victory
Speeding things up — Former Arizona Wildcat Rayshon “Speedy” Luke returns to his old stadium on Saturday. Luke began his football journey in the Snoop Dogg Youth Football League, a non-profit organization Snoop Dogg founded in 2005 to provide inner-city kids a chance to play football, teaching discipline and teamwork while bringing communities together.
Getting Luke going, both in the running and receiving game and will be paramount to offensive success for the Bulldogs. One of the most explosive players in the country, Speedy had 916 yards from scrimmage and 8 total touchdowns during the 2025 season. He added 341 kick return yards as well.
Holding Brunson under 60 — Fresno State possesses one of the more well-balanced defenses in the country, allowing just 20.1 PPG (24th in FBS) and 293.5 yards per game (14th in FBS), marking the fewest yards allowed per game in a season since 1976 (269.64). The Bulldogs are 5-0 this season when allowing under 300 total yards of offense.
Doing that again on Saturday will require stopping the run. The most consistent performer for the RedHawks has been senior running back Jordan Brunson (155 carries, 724 yards, 4 TD), who carried the ball 11 times for 34 yards and a pair of 4th quarter touchdowns in last year’s Arizona Bowl. Miami (OH) is a perfect 8-0 when Brunson has rushed for at least 60 yards in his career, including a 5-0 mark this season.
Brunson shares the backfield with 245-pound freshman short-yardage specialist D’Shawntae Jones (7 TD) who carried the ball 58 times for 262 yards this season.
Limiting the RedHawks rushing attack and forcing Miami (OH) to air it out with a passing attack that is short-handed and not seem consistent results to end the season could be the key to victory.
Forcing the issue — Neither team consistently sustains drives and moving the ball down the field will be difficult against solid defenses. The team that gets to the quarterback more and wins the turnover battle will have a better chance to score with short field position.
The Fresno State defense excels in this department, having forced 24 turnovers (10th in FBS), including 19 interceptions (t-4th in FBS). Nickelback Simeon Harris led the Mountain West with five interceptions. Corner Al’zillion Hamilton had four himself, for the second straight year. Eight other Bulldog defenders had picks in 2025, including two from safety Camryn Bracha and linebacker K’vion Thunderbird.
The ‘Dogs also recovered five fumbles, four of which fell in the hands of defensive lineman Jahzon Jacks (1st in FBS).
Score prediction: Fresno State 24, Miami (OH) 16
With how hard the portal hit the RedHawks, I would give Fresno State the advantage with Luke finding the end zone at least once and kicker Dylan Lynch redeeming himself after a poor bowl game performance a year ago.
Preview written by Al Scott, cover photo of Rayshon “Speedy” Luke taken by Ryan Sepulveda (FSM).
The Fresno State women’s basketball team earned their first conference win of the season in a 53-36 victory over the University of Wyoming in a Mountain West Tournament rematch on Dec. 20 at the Save Mart Center.
Last season, the Bulldogs entered the Mountain West Tournament as the sixth seed and made a deep run, but their run was cut short by the Cowgirls in the semi-final round. However, Head Coach Ryan McCarthy treated this game like any other.
“Most girls on the team, I don’t think they’ve been to Laramie or could point it out on a map, so I think for a lot of them they didn’t know any better,” McCarthy said. “Sometimes that’s a good thing when you kind of play with a little bit of naivety.”
For guard Danae Powell, her motivation stems from the season ahead and her new teammates.
“I didn’t get to finish out last season playing against them, but I feel like my motivation was just about this year as a new team,” Powell said. “Especially earlier in the week we didn’t play how we know we can, so this was important for us to come out and win.”
In the first quarter, both teams were plagued by turnovers, with a combined 12 turnovers partly due to the stout defense played by both teams. However, the Cowgirls would gain the 11-6 edge over the Bulldogs to close out the quarter as a result of their strong passing game—with 4 assists to the ’Dogs’ one.
The Bulldogs opened the second quarter 12-2 scoring run generated by their physicality in the paint with eight paint points and five free throws attempted to earn an 18-13 lead seven minutes into the quarter.
The ‘Dogs end the second quarter with a strong defensive showing, forcing the Cowgirls to operate late into the shot clock, a trend present throughout the second quarter as the Cowgirls were held to two second quarter points en route to the ‘Dogs’ 20-13 halftime lead.
After one half, the Cowgirls were held to 5-20 (25%) from the field, but excelled beyond the arc, going 3-7 (42.9%). The Bulldogs weren’t much better, going 7-23 (30.4%) from the field and 0-6 from three-point range, but they did go 6-9 (66.7%).
The Cowgirls responded in the third quarter with a 12-4 run of their own, sparked by their balanced scoring effort, with four different players contributing to their run and thus gaining the 27-24 lead midway through the quarter.
The Bulldogs find their footing in the late minutes of the quarter to make the game competitive as they survive the Cowgirls’ scoring run with a 31-30 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs rode the third quarter momentum in the early minutes of the fourth quarter with help from Powell and Watkins, who combined for eight points to give the ‘Dogs the 41-30 lead.
To close out the game, the Bulldogs didn’t take their foot off the gas, as they pulled away with the 53-36 win.
What’s next
The Bulldogs continue conference play with two road games: Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. against former Bulldog Mariah Elohim and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Jan. 3 against Colorado State University at noon.
The ‘Dogs return to the Save Mart Center on Jan. 7 in a matchup against San Jose State University at 6:30 p.m.
Story written by Vincent Ordonio, cover photo by Ryan Sepulveda.
Behind lights out performances from freshman Ava Marr and sophomore Danae Powell, the Fresno State women’s basketball snapped a two-game losing skid to defeat Chicago State 81-62.
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 6-5 on the season to finish above .500 in non-conference play. Fresno State made the most of its opportunities beyond the arc, shooting 12-of-27 from three as a team. They made 47.6% of their shots overall and outrebounded the Cougars 46-26.
Key players
Danae Powell (FS): 15 points, 7 assists, 3 steals
Ava Marr (FS): 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
Natalia Williams (CSU): 11 points, 6 rebounds
What happened
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 20-6 lead in the first quarter thanks to threes from Ava Marr (2), Danae Powell and Emilia Long. They also held a 12-3 rebounding advantage over the Cougars, who made just 1-of-13 first quarter field goal attempts.
Powell opened the second period still with a hot hand, draining a three from the top of the kep before going in for an and-one layup a minute later. The next possession, Powell found forward Avery Watkins open under the basket off the in bounds for another easy basket.
Forward Jaisa Gamble followed it up with a pair of layups herself, giving Fresno State a 32-10 lead and forcing a Cougars timeout. Out of the break, Bulldog forward Morelia Chavez banked a three off the right wing to give the ‘Dogs a 26-4 run across eight minutes of play.
Ending the half, Marr nailed a three from the right corner, the 8th-of-14 first half makes from beyond the arc for Fresno State to give them a 45-18 lead at half. The Cougars were held to 4-of-22 (0-4 from 3) from the field in the first half.
Marr opened the second half with another three, her fourth of the game. The Cougars finally showed some life, going on a 13-9 run led by Keona McGee. They had the quarter tied at 19 points apiece until the final possession when Powell found Long open for a layup to give Fresno State a 66-37 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Cougars fought back in the fourth quarter but it was too late as Fresno State went on to win 81-62. Marr finished the night with six threes and a career-high of 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field. Powell, Gamble and Long also scored in double figures.
Injury bug
Star forward Ashlyn Rean (leg) is doubtful to return this season. Indiya Clarke (concussion) is considered day-to-day and questionable to play next week.
What’s next
The Bulldogs will host San Diego State to begin Mountain West Conference play on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the Save Mart Center with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m. The homestand will wrap up next Saturday (Dec. 20) versus Wyoming at 2 p.m.
Fresno State was picked to finish 9th in the conference before the season.
Recap written by Al Scott, cover photo by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine)
Poor shooting woes were the name of the game on Saturday as Pepperdine (6-2) handed Fresno State (5-4) its first home loss of the season, defeating the Bulldogs 65-45.
The ‘Dogs had plenty of opportunities, Fresno State managed to pick up 17 steals. But between poor shooting (17-of-63 FG, 1-8 3PT FG), and being outrebounded 49-28, the Bulldogs were simply overmatched.
Head Coach Ryan McCarthy spoke after the game on what he described as a ‘come to Jesus moment.’
“Our effort tonight was unacceptable and so ultimately this one falls on me,” McCarthy said. “The effort was a product of what we’ve allowed and moving forward, what we’re not going to allow.”
One big cause for the Bulldogs struggles on offense and the boards was the absence of star forward Ashlyn Rean, who is out for the foreseeable future with an undisclosed injury.
“Ashlyn is a difference maker. I’ve not coached many players that can get 20 or more points on 10 or 11 shots. Because she’s got a big motor, we can play her for long periods of time,” McCarthy said.
He added that her presence down low serves as a “zone buster” to open things up on the outside, something that wasn’t going for them tonight.
Pepperdine jumped out to a 7-2 lead early on thanks to five points from guard Lina Falk. A Fresno State turnover then led to an easy layup for former Bulldog point guard Taija Sta. Maria. Avery Watkins responded with a pair of jumpers as part of an 8-2 run for the Dogs.
Pepperdine took over however, going on a 10-0 run in the final five minutes to close out the first quarter with a 19-10 Waves lead.
A pair of free throws from Watkins and a layup from Emilia Long cut the deficit to 22-16 2.5 minutes into the second quarter, but then the Bulldogs shooting woes continued, failing to convert another field goal in the quarter. Pepperdine had six players score at least four points in the first half to give themselves a 28-19 lead.
The Waves extended their lead to 45-29 after three quarters. The Bulldogs offense struggled to establish any sort of rhythm and consistency. As a team, they had just two assists in the entire game (16 for Pepperdine).
Long attempted to single-handily bring the Bulldogs back into the game late in the second half. The Port Angeles, Washington native had 23 points on the night, including 16 after halftime, though the efficiency was still missing.
“It’s called bravery and thank God for Millie,” McCarthy said.
Coach McCarthy added that film is going to be a huge emphasis in the week ahead as the team looks to correct some of the struggles it saw on Saturday, particularly offensively.
What’s next
The Bulldogs stay in California next week as they head north to Moraga, California to take on the Saint Mary’s Gaels on Wednesday, Dec. 10. That game is set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Fresno State will host Chicago State next Saturday at 5 p.m. before beginning Mountain West Conference play at home on Dec. 17 versus San Diego State.
Recap written by Al Scott, cover photo by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine)
A special day was spoiled by a rough second half, as Fresno State fell 6-3 following a 76-71 loss to Cal State University Bakersfield on Sunday afternoon at Selland Arena in front of several alumni and one of its biggest crowds of the season (4,374 attendance). Head Coach Vance Walberg expressed his frustration after the game, on not being able to deliver the Red Wave a victory.
“I’m just disappointed for the fans,” Walberg said. “We’ve been playing pretty darn good basketball, and today we kind of laid an egg.”
Walberg said that practicing more zone defense will be an emphasis. Protecting the interior was a struggle against the Roadrunners, stopping Dailin Smith in particular.
The 6’6” guard was flowing in and out of the key without much trouble at all, scoring 30 points (21 in second half). He made 6-of-13 from the field and 9-of-10 from the line to lead the game in scoring.
A big chunk of his production came late in the half when Bulldog guard DJ Stickman came out of the game holding his hip. The freshman returned to the game about five minutes later but it was too little, too late.
“DJ is probably our best defensive player,” Walberg said. “(Losing him) hurt a bit, but we got to find a way to get it done.”
Fresno State made just 24-of-65 (37%) of its field goal attempts, something Walberg would certainly like his squad to improve upon.
“I feel like we cut a lot better the last couple games. This game, a little bit of pumping and so forth took us out,” Walberg said.
He added that they are a much better shooting team, particularly from beyond the arc than they showed. They made just 8-of-33 of their attempts on Sunday. If you removed point guard Zaon Collins, that number goes to just 5-of-27 (18.5%).
Key players
Zaon Collins (FS): 17 points, 4 assists, 4 steals
Jake Heidbreder (FS): 20 points, 3 rebounds
Dailin Smith (CSUB): 30 points, 6 rebounds
CJ Hardy (CSUB): 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
What happened
A back-and-forth affair early on. The Roadrunners got a three from AJ George. A minute later, CJ Hardy pulled up for a midrange jumper. Then former Bulldog Pierre Geneste Jr. quieted the Red Wave with an alleyoop dunk.
The Bulldogs responded with a trio of threes from Jake Heidbreder, Zaon Collins and Jac Mani. Collins would drain another one from the top of the key to give the Bulldogs an 18-15 lead 10 minutes into the half.
Following a stepback jumper from Hardy, Fresno State went on a 9-0 run thanks to a pair of layups from DeShawn Gory and Collins. Wilson Jacques also added a dunk. The run forced a Roadrunners timeout with Fresno State leading 25-17.
Fresno State’s offense being able to not completely fall apart when Heidbreder is on the bench has been a struggle all season, but they were able to manage for a few minutes in the first half on Sunday, finding open threes for Cameron Faas and David Douglas Jr.
Bakersfield kept themselves in it however. Tom Mark nailed a jumper off the key to cap off an 8-0 run to draw the Roadrunners deficit to just 31-28.
Fresno State used a pair of driving layups from Heidbreder and Stickman to take a 40-34 lead into halftime. Collins led all scorers with 13 points. He also had 4 steals.
The Bulldogs only led by six points despite a 27-12 rebounding advantage at halftime, something Walberg has pushed as an area of emphasis they need to improve on.
Scoring was hard to come by in the second half for both teams. The Bulldogs were able to get Heidbreder going a little though after a quiet first half. The Clemson transfer passed out to Mani, only to then cut backdoor for a give and go layup to give Fresno State a 53-45 lead with 12:34 left before a media timeout.
Out of the break, Gory converted an and-one and a driving layup to extend the ‘Dogs lead to 10. A pair of free throws from Dailin Smith and a coast-to-coast layup, and-one from Hardy cut it to 5. Smith added another layup and two more makes from the charity strip to give the Roadrunners a 10-0 run, cutting the deficit to just one.
Smith made an off-balance jumper while getting fouled by Heidbreder, then converted the and-one to tie the game at 62 with 4:38 remaining. A pair of baskets from Smith and Hardy gave the Roadrunners a 66-64 lead a minute later.
Fresno State struggled to make shots down stretch, while not being able to prevent baskets going in on the other end resulting in Bakersfield taking home the victory, 76-71.
What’s next
Fresno State will play at #22 Arkansas next Saturday, Dec. 6. at Bud Walton Arena. This will be the only non-conference game played outside of California this season. Walberg and Associate Head Coach John Welch are both familiar with Razorbacks Head Coach John Calipari during their time at Kentucky together.
“One of the most talented coaches in our country who has been ahead of the trends. His style of play will help get recruits and be appealing to fans. He is a gatherer who will bring people together for a common cause,” Calipari said in a statement, following Walberg’s hiring in April of last year. Now he’s going up against Walberg.
“John’s a very good friend. I appreciate him getting us a chance to go out there and play them,” Walberg said.
Fresno State will wrap up non-conference play at Cal State Northridge on Wednesday, Dec. 10 before beginning Mountain West Conference play at UNLV on Saturday, Dec. 20. The Bulldogs will return to the Save Mart Center on Dec. 30 to host Utah State.
Walberg added that despite the loss, he enjoyed the atmosphere and would like to be able to make the ‘Return to Selland’ game an annual thing.
Recap written by Al Scott, cover photo by Vincent Ordonio (Fresno Sports Magazine)
It won’t be the last time Fresno State and San Jose State meet, but the Bulldogs will forever hold bragging rights for taking home the Valley Trophy for the last time as Mountain West foes.
Led by a relentless defense, Fresno State defeated San Jose State 41-14 on Saturday night at CEFCU Stadium in Silicon Valley. The Bulldogs recorded five interceptions and held the Spartans to just 227 total yards. Offensively, they ran the ball 53 times for 259 yards.
WIth the win, Fresno State finishes the regular season at 8-4 (5-3) in its first year under Head Coach Matt Entz.
Key players
Josiah Freeman (FS): 6 receptions, 76 yards, TD
Simeon Harris (FS): 2 INT’s, 1 TFL
Elijah Gilliam (FS): 9 carries, 92 yards, 2 TD’s
Jordan Pollard (SJSU): 19 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT
What happened
For the second straight week, EJ Warner won the quarterback battle in practice over Carson Conklin. After three straight three-and-outs, Warner took over on the San Jose State 35 yard line thanks to a poor punt less than five minutes into the game.
The Bulldogs ran for five of the six plays on the drive, before settling for a 34-yard field goal from kicker Dylan Lynch.
Late in the first quarter, San Jose State quarterback Tama Amisone looked down the left sideline for star receiver Danny Scudero, only for the pass to be tipped. Nickelback Simeon Harris came down with it for his fourth interception, leading to another Lynch field goal, this time from 41 yards out.
The next drive, the Bulldogs secondary stepped up again. This time it was senior Al’zillion Hamilton with his 4th interception of the season (8th of his career), giving the Bulldogs the ball back on the 37 yard line.
Warner found wide receiver Josiah Freeman for a pair of medium sized completions on the outside, setting up a Brandon Ramirez touchdown run up the gut to give Fresno State a 13-0 lead. The Bulldogs got the ball back after forcing another three-and-out.
Facing 3rd and short on the Spartans 45 yard line, Warner missed Freeman only to find the hands of Spartans linebacker Jordan Pollard who ran the ball back 58 yards for a touchdown.
Warner redeemed himself late in the second half, finding Freeman open for a 37-yard pass for six points. Freeman followed it up with a reverse to give Fresno State the two-point conversion and a 21-7 lead heading into halftime.
Like in the first half, the Bulldogs used another interception to set up points. This time it was safety Ethan Tierney. The turnover led to a third Lynch field goal, giving the Bulldogs a 24-7 lead.
San Jose State did not score offensively until the fourth quarter. Third string quarterback Xavier Ward found Scudero open on a 3rd and long completion for 37 yards. Despite multiple goalline stops, the Spartans finally got through with Viliami Teu rushing in for a touchdown.
The Bulldogs were relentless though, wearing down the Spartans defense. Elijah Gilliam, Ramirez and Jonathan Arceneaux ran seven times for a combined 75 yards and a touchdown from Gilliam.
The rest of the quarter was more of the same, two more interceptions (Jayden Davis and Harris) as well as a cutthroat Bulldog running game that surpassed 2,000 yards in a season for the first time since 2018.
Fresno State would go on to win 41-14.
What’s next
The Bulldogs will get at least a few weeks off before finding out their next destination. Fresno State is bowl eligible for the fifth straight season.
The next game at Valley Children’s Stadium will come on Sep. 12 next year against Sacramento State for week two of the 2026 season.
Recap written by Al Scott, cover photo by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine)
Being ‘Bulldog Born: Bulldog Bred’ is a term often thrown around at Fresno State and while he only came to Fresno a mere 16 months ago, Director of Athletics Garrett Klassy has always had that Bulldog mentality.
“We’re putting that valley DNA, that grit, into everything we do and and we’re trying to do things here that really align us to the culture and the values of this community,” Klassy said.
That community is one that has become a safe haven for him. A lot has happened in his life since April of 2024, between uprooting his family for a dream job and losing both of his parents.
“It is tough anytime you go through transition,” Klassy said.
When he first moved to Fresno, several people in the community offered up their homes to help with that transition process, something that reminded him of his roots.
“The way that the community accepted me and my family, it’s special. And I can’t say that about every place I’ve worked at,” Klassy said. “This is a Midwestern town in the middle of California with much better weather, but the people are very much Midwestern like me, and this, this is home.”
Home indeed, the Klassy family has indulged in Yosemite and China Peak as well as trips to the ocean on occasion, but for the Fresno State Director of Athletics, he is more than content exactly where he’s at and enjoys exploring all of Fresno County.
The New Glaus, Wisconsin native is not unfamiliar to agriculture, though admittedly he hadn’t milked a cow in nearly 20 years, something he got to do last week along with the Jordan College of Agriculture.
“Turns out it’s like riding a bike,” Klassy said.
The future of Fresno State hoops and Vance Walberg
The Bulldogs men’s basketball team is coming off a season in which they went 6-26. With a historically bad season comes uproar and fans have on more than a few occasions called for the firing of Head Coach Vance Walberg.
Klassy for what it’s worth, did not hire the coach, having come to Fresno State 2.5 months after Walberg signed a three-year deal. No one would fault him for wanting to bring in his own guy. Klassy made it clear though that he is Walberg’s “biggest fan” and envisions him to be around for a while.
“Vance Walberg is our coach, and I expect he will be our coach for the foreseeable future. I’ve already seen improvement in this team from last year to this year, and it’s an exciting team to watch,” Klassy said.
Despite last season’s struggles, Walberg has been determined to win at Fresno State, even risking his personal fortune to do so in an initiative to try and reverse the fortunes. Walberg and his family donated $1 million to Valley Co-Op earlier this year, per the Fresno Bee. The money would largely be used for N.I.L. purposes as they aim to recruit and retain high-end talent.
The early results have been promising, with the Bulldogs at 6-2 to begin the 2025-26 season, already matching its win total from a year ago. Walberg, who has mentioned his hatred for losing on several occasions, cited the inverse following the team’s win over New Orleans on Nov. 21.
“Winning, I always tell you, ‘best drug in the world,’” Walberg said.
The joy on his face is much different this season, in a good way. Walberg was able to chuckle after a unique incident following the game against New Orleans.
Beyond the on-court results, Walberg’s dedication to winning and turning the program around has resonated with his Athletic Director.
“There’s no one that wants to win more for Fresno State basketball than Vance and his coaching staff. “He’s put his blood, sweat and tears and resources into this program, and we are supporting him with as much as we can,” Klassy said.
Oftentimes when a new athletic director comes in, they like to set a new standard and bring in new coaches. Klassy has certainly done that to an extent, though it should be noted that most of said hires were replacements rather than moving on due to performance.
Matt Entz (football) was hired to replace Interim head Coach Tim Skipper who stepped in for the retired Jeff Tedford, Ryan McCarthy (women’s basketball) was hired to replace Jaime White who retired, and Charlotte Morgan (softball) was hired to replace Stacy May-Johnson, who left in May to come the head coach at her alma mater (Iowa).
The only changes Klassy has made due to performance have been in women’s soccer (more on that later) and women’s golf.
“When you make tough decisions, people understand them, and as long as you’re transparent and authentic, they’ll support you,” Klassy said.
In Walberg’s case, he signed a unique three-year deal in April 2024 with an option for two more years. It included a guarantee that Fresno State would keep him under contract for at least the first two seasons.
Beginning in May of 2026, Fresno State would have the option to buy out the coach’s deal for $164,070. The university pays about 55% of his total annual salary, with the remainder covered by the Fresno State Athletic Corporation. Klassy is optimistic it won’t come to that though.
“I hope this fan base gets behind him and supports them, because not only does Vance deserve it, his coaching staff deserves it and the student athletes do as well,” Klassy said. “They’re working really hard. I like Vance. We have a great working relationship, and he’s doing everything possible to turn this team into a consistent winner.”
Future of Fresno State athletics
The Bulldogs are closing in on the end of its 6-year run with Adidas as the University’s official athletic footwear, apparel and accessory brand. The current deal is set to expire in June of 2026, meaning there’s a chance Fresno State athletics will have a new apparel partner this time next year.
Fresno State hasn’t ruled out a reunion with the Portland based company known for its three stripe logo.
“Adidas has been an incredible partner, but we’re still wrapping up some things on where we’re going,” Klassy said.
In addition to Adidas, the University has had discussions with both Nike and Under Armour. A new deal is expected to be made official before the new year, potentially in the next week or so.
The new deal will coincide with Fresno State joining the Pac-12, a move just a few months into Klassy’s tenure.
“This move not only elevates our national profile but also brings tremendous opportunities for our student-athletes to compete at the highest level. We are committed to upholding the values and traditions of both Fresno State and the Pac-12 while embracing the innovative future ahead,” Klassy said in a statement following the announcement in Sept. 2024.
With that, Fresno State will need to grow and improve internally (no intention of adding new sports anytime soon).
“We have to be great at what we’re currently doing before we can start looking at other ventures,” Klassy.
One area on the list of things to get done is renovating the current facilities, especially the football stadium.
Building a new tomorrow
Plans for a new or rather improved football venue has been a discussion for a long time at Fresno State. Bulldog Stadium, now called Valley Children’s Stadium, was built in 1980 and has seen moderate renovations over the years, mainly through field improvements and the addition of luxury boxes.
Wear and tear has caught up with it overall though. Unfortunately for the University and the Red Wave, the funds for said stadium improvements have not gotten to where they need to be in order to pursue a large-scale project.
Fans have already seen two different sets of plans, most recently with the Elevate campaign, only for the project to fall through, something Klassy says President Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval and himself are wanting to avoid.
“We’re actively exploring options, but we want to make sure that this is realistic before we move forward with any plans that we may have,” Klassy said.
Funding said project has been a difficult venture in itself but not one without efforts put in. Multiple campaigns for Measure-E, which would have included money towards athletics have failed.
The University also hosted its first ever concert at Valley Children’s Stadium in August, bringing Shakira to Fresno. Klassy envisions a future in which they can host 4-5 special events a year (in addition to football) at the stadium, bringing in money for Fresno State as well as providing the community with great entertainment.
“We think we’re a great market to have more shows, because the reality is we’re a completely separate market than Sacramento or San Francisco or Los Angeles, “Klassy said. “For us to be able to compete at the highest level in the Pac 12. We need that revenue source to continue to help us to invest it in our student athletes.”
The Shakira concert did well and wasn’t considered a failure but technical issues on Fresno State’s end in preparing for the concert has made it difficult to set up future events soon. Klassy is confident though that the appropriate adjustments have been made and they will be ready for the next opportunity.
Time for a change
The Bulldogs decided to part ways with former women’s soccer head coach Brian Zwaschka on Nov. 18, following 17 seasons under his tenure. While at Fresno State, Zwaschka compiled a 112-143-51 overall record and Western Athletic Conference Championship in 2010.
“I just want to wish him the best and thank him for his service to Fresno State,” Klassy said. “Coaching jobs aren’t easy, and anytime you’ve been in a job that long speaks volumes.”
In terms of replacing him, Klassy said they are looking for a head coach that is able to create an incredible student athlete experience, in a three-pronged approach: “obviously the competitive piece, but it also includes graduating student athletes and turning our student athletes into great citizens.”
Like with both McCarthy and Entz hires, Klassy values head coaching experience at the collegiate level. But he didn’t rule out other possible candidates.
“I don’t like backing myself into the corner, and I like to put a wide swath out there,” Klassy said. “We’ve talked to assistant coaches through every process. Also, if you’re a successful club coach that has sent a lot of student athletes to the Division I level, that’s intriguing or if you have a lot of local connections, there’s lots of very good soccer in the valley.”
The right guy for the job
Will there be challenges ahead? Yes, especially in regards to raising money. But Fresno State is headed in the right direction and they seem to have the right guy in the right place at the right time leading the charge.
Story written by Al Scott, photos courtesy of Fresno State Athletics
