Fresno State vs. Nevada
By EDDIE HUGHES
Bulldogs
Point Guard
Speedy freshman Kevin Bell had a season-high nine assists for the Bulldogs in Monday’s loss to Rice. Bell’s sticky defense should help against No. 25 Nevada on Saturday.
Wing
Ja’Vance Coleman has been the Bulldogs go-to guy much of the season. A recent achilles injury had him spending more time than usual on the bench. A healthy Coleman would be a big boost for the team in the home finale.
Wing
The 3-point shooting of Donovan Morris was big in the Bulldogs’ win over Nevada earlier this season. Morris was 3 of 4 from outside and had 14 points in the game. He also had 14 in Monday’s game.
Power Forward
The trio of Chris Berry, Dreike Bouldin and Hector Hernandez didn’t score much in the first matchup with Nevada. They didn’t need to. Defending one of the WAC’s top frontcourt tandems will be the toughest task on Saturday.
Center
Mustafa Al-Sayyad led the team with 20 points and seven rebounds in the first meeting. The Bulldogs could use another one of Al-Sayyad’s recent shot-blocking demonstrations. He had a school-record 11 blocks against Buffalo.
Intangibles
Fresno State has lost seven of its last 10 games and needs to get back on the winning track heading into the WAC tournament.
Wolf Pack
Point Guard
It’s the battle of freshmen point guards — part two. Ramon Sessions averages 9.3 points and 5.3 assists in his first season with the Wolf Pack. He came one assist short of matching his averages in the teams’ first matchup.
Edge: Wolf Pack
Shooting Guard
Bakersfield native Kyle Shiloh was quiet, with just one point and three rebounds in 32 minutes, in Nevada’s loss to Fresno State earlier this season.
Edge: Bulldogs
Small Forward
Jermaine Washington averages 6.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Washington, though, is needed more defensively guarding either Coleman or Morris.
Edge: Bulldogs
Power Forward
Super sophomore Nick Fazekas leads the WAC with 21 points per game. He also averages 9.3 rebounds. He had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds last time against the Bulldogs but shot just 7 of 18 from the field.
Edge: Wolf Pack
Center
The first matchup between Al-Sayyad and Nevada’s Kevinn Pinkney was fun to watch. It should be again. Pinkney had 16 points and eight rebounds.
Edge: Even
Intangibles
When Nevada’s frontcourt is on, the Wolf Pack is tough to beat. But the Bulldogs already did it once this season — in Reno.
Edge: Even
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