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