GAME 9: FRESNO STATE (6-2, 0-0 MW) vs. CSU Bakersfield (3-4, 0-0 Big West)
November 30, 2025 | 3 p.m. PT | Fresno, Calif. | Selland Arena
MEDIA COVERAGE
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Watch: Mountain West Network
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
Play by Play: Paul Loeffler | Analyst: Marc Q. Jones | Sideline: Taylor Martinez
FOLLOW ALONG ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateMBB
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FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State is returning to Selland Arena for one game only this season, facing CSU Bakersfield at 3 p.m. PT.
The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 6-2 record, the team's best start through eight games since the 2021-22 season.
BULLDOG BONES
Head Coach Vance Walberg is in his second season at the helm of the Bulldog Basketball program and his fourth season as a head coach overall.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 6-26 season, entering 2025-26, with a total of two conference wins, against Air Force and Wyoming.
Fresno State began the 2025-26 campaign with seven consecutive home games, all played at the Save Mart Center.
This is the first time in program history that the Bulldogs have a seven-game home stand to start the season.
The Fresno State men's basketball team looks a little different this season, with 73% of the roster being newcomers to the squad.
Fresno State returns only four athletes this season: Troy Jenkins, Makhan Diouf, Zaon Collins and David "DJ" Douglas, Jr.
Of the four, Collins is the Bulldogs' only returning starter and letterwinner.
DJ Douglas, a transfer from Green Bay, played in six games for the Bulldogs in 2024-25 before his season was cut short due to injury.
Troy Jenkins and Makhan Diouf both redshirted for the 2024-25 season and did not see game action.
BACK TO OUR ROOTS
The Bulldogs' men's basketball team will head back downtown for a special nonconference matchup against CSU Bakersfield on Sunday, November 30, marking Fresno State's first game at its historic former home since 2009.
Selland Arena served as the home of Fresno State basketball from 1966 through 2003, hosting some of the most memorable moments in program history, from the electric "Grant's Tomb" sellout streak of the early 1980s to the 2000 Western Athletic Conference Championship under legendary head coach Jerry Tarkanian.
Fresno State's last full season in Selland Arena was the 2002-03 season, before the team made the transition to the Save Mart Center. The Bulldogs posted a remarkable 390–135 record at Selland, fueled by 49 consecutive sellouts and some of the loudest crowds in the West.
A BRIEF HISTORY WITH THE ROADRUNNERS
Fresno State leads CSU Bakersfield 12-6 all-time and is 3-2 against the Roadrunners in their last five matchups.
The Bulldogs dropped a tough game to CSUB last season, 58-74 on the road.
Zaon Collins led the Bulldog scoring in that game with 12 points in 24 minutes on the court.
The Roadrunners have a familiar face on the court this season in Pierre Geneste, Jr., who was on Fresno State's roster last season.
LAST TIME ON THE FLOOR
The Bulldogs pulled an Uno reverse card on the Pepperdine Waves this week at the Acrisure Series in Palm Desert, defeating them 76-53.
Fresno State could not get into a groove in the first half, shooting only 32.4% (11-34) and making only one three-pointer in 14 attempts… the last attempt of the half.
Fresno State's switch-up at the half, however, should be studied by science.
The Bulldogs came in hot after the break, going on a 33-2 run over the Waves after scoring 19 straight points in the first five minutes of the half.
Fresno State led by as many as 32 points with just under six minutes left in the game before pumping the brakes.
Pepperdine went from shooting 45.2% in the first half to 18.2%, while the Bulldogs started the game shooting 32.4% and shot 66.7% after halftime.
Fresno State had only seven turnovers for the first time since February 6, 2024, against San Diego State.
1,000 POINT CLUB
First-year Bulldog Jake Heidbreder has made an impact for Fresno State through only five games this season.
With 18 points scored against Utah Valley on November 15, the senior surpassed 1,000 career points.
So far, the guard has scored 160 points in a Bulldog uniform and owns a .519 shooting percentage, .356 from three, and averages 36.6 minutes per game.
Heidbreder is making an impact on a national scale as well, ranking 41st in the country in field goal attempts (106), 11th in the country in field goals (55), 8th in the country in minutes per game (36:34), 19th in the country in points (160) and 39th in the country in three-point attempts (59).
WE'LL TAKE THAT
Fresno State ranks 28th in the country and second in the conference in turnovers forced per game.
Through eight games, the Bulldogs average 16.50 forced turnovers per game.
Fresno State also had a season-high 28 points off turnovers against UCSD and tied that high against Pepperdine.
The Bulldogs have outscored opponents off turnovers in all but one game so far this season.
In total, the Bulldogs have scored 167 points off turnovers this season compared to opponents' 92 points off turnovers.
WITH THE ASSIST
Zaon Collins, one of Fresno State's only returners on the 2025 -26 roster, has led the Bulldogs in assists in all eight games so far this season.
He tied a career high with nine assists against Pepperdine on Wednesday.
Currently, the junior guard ranks 13th in the country and first in the Mountain West in the category.
FRESH START
Fresno State welcomes 11 newcomers to the roster this season: three transfers and 8 eight freshmen.
Cameron Faas, Jake Heidbreder and Jac Mani all transferred from NCAA DI basketball programs.
Of the eight freshmen, seven are international students.
WELCOME (BACK) TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST
Transfer Jake Heidbreder is on his third stop in his college career.
Heidbreder started his career at Air Force, where he spent the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
He then transferred to Clemson after his second year at Air Force, redshirted for the 2023-24 season, and returned to the court for the 2024-25 season.
Heidbreder returns to the Mountain West for his final year of eligibility at Fresno State.
VALLEY ROOTS RUN DEEP
When Vance Walberg was named the Bulldogs' head coach, he emphasized the community, doing things for the Central Valley because Fresno State is the Central Valley's team. That message resonates with not just Walberg but also with his staff. Of the program's six coaches, five have previously lived in the Central Valley.
Walberg has spent more than 20 years coaching in the Valley at Clovis West HS and Fresno City College.
John Welch was a member of Jerry Tarkanian's staff at Fresno State from 1995 to 2002.
Ray Barefield grew up in Fresno and prepped down the street from campus at Hoover HS, graduating in 1989. He is in the school's Hall of Fame.
Chris Stahowski played for and coached alongside Walberg. He also graduated from Fresno State in 2007.
Tory Stamps grew up in Fresno and played at Central HS, graduating in 2012.