Fresno State vs. San Jose State
GAME PREVIEW by EDDIE HUGHES
Bulldogs
Point Guard
Kevin Bell had a team-high three turnovers against Nevada on Saturday.
Dominique White played nine more minutes than Bell, scoring four points,
but was 1 of 9 shooting. The Bulldogs will need an improvement at the
point on Thursday.
Wing
Ja’Vance Coleman helped the Bulldogs keep it close against Nevada
for most of the game with his ability to finish drives to the basket.
Coleman led the team with 18 points. He had 15 in the first meeting with
San Jose State.
Wing
The Bulldogs aren’t known for good free-throw shooting this season,
but Donovan Morris didn’t follow suit on Saturday. He was 10 of
11 from the line en route to 15 points. Starter Dwight O’Neil has
become a player the Bulldogs look to for a basket in isolation.
Power Forward
Fresno State got just three rebounds from Dreike Bouldin in 29 minutes
in the loss to Nevada. Expect the senior to have more than that against
the Spartans.
Center
Mustafa Al-Sayyad had 14 points and 10 rebounds last time against the
Spartans, who could have trouble scoring inside against the WAC’s
top shot-blocker. Al-Sayyad and Bouldin will be needed on the boards.
Intangibles
The Bulldogs (14-12, 8-8 WAC) are in a funk, having lost five of their
past six games and eight of 11.
Spartans
Point Guard
Alex Elam hurt the Bulldogs in the teams’ first meeting, scoring
14 points and hitting 2 of 5 3-point attempts. At 6-foot-4, he presents
a tough matchup for the Bulldogs’ smaller guards.
Edge: Spartans
Shooting Guard
Eric Bloom, also 6-4, averages 8.8 points per game for San Jose State
but was held scoreless in 25 minutes in a loss to Fresno State earlier
this season.
Edge: Bulldogs
Small Forward
Michael McFadden averages 7.2 points per game. He’ll be needed on
defense if the Bulldogs’ shooters catch rhythm.
Edge: Bulldogs
Power Forward
The Spartans’ leader is Marquin Chandler, who had 21 points on 8-for-18
shooting against the Bulldogs in the first meeting. Chandler kept the
Spartans in that game with his play.
Edge: Spartans
Center
Lindsay native Matt Misko (6-10) had trouble shooting with a 1-for-8 performance
last time against Fresno State. He gets another shot against Al-Sayyad
on Thursday.
Edge: Bulldogs
Intangibles
The Spartans (6-20, 3-13 WAC) are struggling through the season. But they
always seem to play the Bulldogs close in San Jose.
Edge: Bulldogs
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