File photo by
Juan Villa / The Collegian

Fresno State (13-15, 5-8 WAC) vs.New Mexico State (16-12, 9-3 WAC)

Tip-off: Saturday, 7 p.m. at Save Mart Center
Listen Live: KMJ-AM 580
Series Record: Aggies lead 16-12

Breakdown: Bulldogs

The Bulldogs are on a two-game winning streak going into tomorrow̢۪s game against one of the best teams in the conference.

And this game looks familiar to the ‘Dogs.

Last week, the Bulldogs faced Hawaii — a team stacked with offensive weapons that had a chance at finishing the season with the conference’s best record.

The ‘Dogs lost to Hawaii on the road earlier in the season and were able to grab a home victory against the Warriors. Fresno State lost at New Mexico State earlier this year, and now the two teams will meet in Fresno.

The last time these two teams met, Kevin Bell finished with 19 points. Bell is also coming off a Player of the Week nomination from the Western Athletic Conference. Last week Bell had big games against Hawaii and Cal Poly.

Hector Hernandez is coming off a poor game. Hernandez finished with zero points in the Bulldogs last game against Cal Poly. Hernandez has played strong in the last couple weeks, and should come back strong in tomorrow̢۪s game.

With two home games and two victories in a row, Fresno State will look to finish its home stand with three wins.

Breakdown: Aggies

With just two weeks remaining in conference play, New Mexico State is 9-3 and one game behind Boise State. The Broncos currently have the best record in conference.

The Aggies also have to worry about Nevada with it̢۪s 9-4 record. A loss for New Mexico would put them in a tie for second place with the Wolfpack.

New Mexico State is loaded with offensive weaponry in it̢۪s six players who average 10 points or more on any given night.

New Mexico State leads the conference in margin of victory at 8.3 points a game

Junior guard Justin Hawkins is the Aggies leading scorer with 15.7 points a game. The 6̢۪7̢̢۪۪ guard averages 6.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game. When New Mexico played Fresno State earlier in the season, Hawkins finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds.

Senior guard Fred Peete should provide plenty of trouble on the defensive end. Peete averages 1.9 steals a game, a conference best. The team leads the conference in steals.

New Mexico is currently on a five game winning streak and will look to continue the team̢۪s hot streak at the Save Mart Center tomorrow.

Comments may be used in the print edition of the newspaper. Be sure to pick up next Friday̢۪s issue of The Collegian for featured comments.