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SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS (2-0/0-0 MWC) at FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS (2-1/0-0 WAC)
DATE: Monday, November 27, 2000 TIME: 7:00 p.m. PST SITE: Selland Arena (10,220) in Fresno, Calif. TELEVISION: None RADIO: All San Diego State games are broadcast on radio. The Fresno State game will be carried on KPOP AM-1360 with Jim Stone calling the action. OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.goaztecs.com THE SERIES: San Diego State leads 50-47
Off to Best Start Since '95-96 Aztecs Travel to Fresno for Game With Bulldogs At 2-0 for the first time in five seasons, San Diego State hits the road for the first time this year to battle long-time nemesis Fresno State on Monday at Selland Arena. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on KPOP-AM 1360 (San Diego). There is no opponent the Aztecs have played more than the Bulldogs. The two long-time Western Athletic Conference rivals have met 97 times with the Aztecs owning a 50-47 advantage. San Diego State won consecutive games by a double-digit margin for the first time in four seasons when the Aztecs disposed of New Mexico State 77-62 Tuesday night at Cox Arena. Fresno State, a 2000 NCAA Tournament participant and the preseason favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference, is 2-1 after defeating North Carolina State 82-63 on Wednesday night in the Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic in Springfield, Mass. Chris Jeffries led five Bulldogs in double figures with 19 points. Fresno State shot 50.9 percent from the field while forcing the Wolfpack into 39.3 percent field goal shooting and 24 turnovers.
Aztecs Avenge Last Season's Loss With Double-Digit Victory Over Aggies Junior forward Myron Epps, junior forward Randy Holcomb and junior guard Karlo Kovacic scored 14 points apiece as San Diego State improved to 2-0 for the first time since the 1995-96 season with a 77-62 victory over New Mexico State. The 15-point victory comes less than a year after the Aztecs suffered a 17-point loss to the Aggies in Las Cruces, N.M., last Nov. 30. San Diego State led by as many as 15 points in the second half, before a 12-2 run cut the Aztec advantage to five points with 4:39 to play. But following an Aztec time out, Kovacic connected on his fourth three-point field goal of the game to ignite a 14-4 run to secure the victory. Sophomore guard Deandre Moore scored 10 points and dished out a career-high nine assists in 38 minutes of action. The Aztecs held New Mexico State to 40.4 percent field goal shooting and converted on 20 of 26 free throw attempts in the contest.
Know Thy Enemy: About Fresno St. Location: Fresno, Calif. Founded: 1911 Enrollment: 18,902 President: Dr. John D. Welty Athletic Director: Dr. Allen Bohl Nickname: Bulldogs Colors: Red and Blue Arena (Capacity): Selland Arena (10,220) Conference: Western Athletic
Scouting the Bulldogs Fresno State is off to a 2-1 start after disposing of preseason top-25 North Carolina State by an 82-63 margin last Wednesday in Springfield, Mass. The Bulldogs return two starters and six letterwinners off a 24-10 squad that advanced to the NCAA tournament last season. Fresno State is is led by coach Jerry Tarkanian, who is in his sixth season at the helm of alma mater. Fresno State, which has posted five consecutive 20-win seasons, opened the year at home with a 104-66 victory over Saint Mary's before losing to St. Bonaventure 87-74 in the championship game of the Hispanic College Fund Classic in Fresno, Calif.
The Fresno State Series San Diego State has played Fresno State more times than any other opponent. The Aztecs and Bulldogs, which shared conference affiliation in both the California Collegiate Athletic Association, Pacific Coast Athletic Association and the Western Athletic Conference, have met 97 previous times with San Diego State owning a 50-47 advantage. Fresno State has had the upper hand in the series recently, winning nine consecutive games in the series and the Bulldogs have won 16 of 17 dating back to the 1985-86 season. The teams did not meet last season, San Diego State's first in the Mountain West Conference. The teams played home and home in the 1998-99 campaign with the Bulldogs claiming a 101-80 victory in Fresno and a 95-84 victory in San Diego. * - Last Meeting: Fresno State 95, San Diego State 84 (Feb. 25, 1999) in Cox Arena, San Diego, Calif.: Courtney Alexander scored 35 points and Terrance Roberson added 20 points as Fresno State defeated San Diego State 95-84. The Bulldogs shot 50.0 percent from the field, including 20-of-32 from the floor after intermission to secure the victory. The Aztecs trailed 71-64 with 8:35 remaining, when the Bulldogs went on a 12-0 run to open the game up. Alexander scored seven of Fresno State's 12 points during the spurt. San Diego State was led by Myron Epps, who hit on 9-of-11 field goal attempts en route to a career high 24 points and 11 rebounds. * - Last Meeting in Fresno: Fresno State 101, San Diego State 80 (Jan. 28, 1999) in Selland Arena, Fresno, Calif.: Fresno State held San Diego State to eight first-half field goals and forced 14 Aztec turnovers prior to halftime in claiming a 101-80 victory in Fresno, Calif. Chris Herrin scored 27 points and Willie Farley added 18 points to lead five Bulldog players in double figures. San Diego State was paced by Myron Epps' 24 points, on 8-of-13 shooting. Fresno State ended the contest with 18 three-point field goals, including nine by Herren. Meanwhile, the Aztecs hit on 2-of-10 from behind the arc. Homecoming for Aztec Duo Monday's game will be a homecoming of sorts for a couple of Aztec players. Junior forward Myron Epps is from Tulare, Calif., approximately 45 miles from Fresno, Calif. Epps has two previous games against the Bulldogs, scoring 24 point in each contest and averaging nine rebounds against the Bulldogs. Most impressive is Epps' field goal shooting against Fresno State. A career, 49.7 percent field goal shooter, Epps is 17-of-24 (70.8 percent) from the floor against the Bulldogs. Junior guard Karlo Kovacic played junior college basketball at Modesto College, approximately 95 miles from Fresno. Junior forward Randy Holcomb played at Fresno State for one season before transferring to L.A. City College. Holcomb recorded six double-figure scoring games in his freshmen campaign, including a career-high 30 vs. Sacramento State and a double-double vs. Chicago State. Interestingly enough, Holcomb aided the Bulldogs in both of their victories over San Diego State, scoring 13 points and pulling down nine rebounds in Fresno and scoring two points with two rebounds in the contest played in San Diego.
Talkin' Bout A Revolution Most experts thought Steve Fisher would turn around the Aztecs basketball fortunes, but even they could not have predicted San Diego State's early season success thus far. Off to a 2-0 start for the first time in five seasons only begins to scratch the surface of what the Aztecs have accomplished through their first two games. Below is a look at some of the impressive numbers the Aztecs have posted this season. *?- Snapped a 17-game losing streak with a 32-point victory in the season opener for the Aztecs largest margin of victory since Dec. 2, 1998. *?-?Defeated New Mexico State, a team with three starters returning off a 2000 postseason NIT participant, by 15 points after losing to the Aggies by 17 points less than a year ago. *?- Recorded consecutive double-digit victories for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign. *?-?Won their second game of the season on Nov. 21st, the earliest in school history. *?-?Outscored their first two opponents by 47 points, the best two-game scoring margin since the first two games of the 1993-94 season. *?- Held their first two opponents to 110 points (55.0 ppg) , the lowest two-game total since March of 1995 and the lowest two-game total to open a season since the 1993-94 campaign.
The Nation's Most Improved Team? Not many people would argue that San Diego State is vastly improved over the squad that went 5-23 last season, but is San Diego State one of the most improved team in the country? According to the Sagarin ratings, yes. The Aztecs opened the season as the 262nd team with a 63.66 rating. After defeating New Mexico State, the Wednesday edition of the ratings had San Diego State with a 74.42 rating for 136th place. Below is a look at the biggest jumps from the preseason Sagarin rating as compared to ratings released on Nov. 24. Rk. Team Preseason As of 11/24 +/- 1. Mercer 299 157 +142 2. Rice 211 70 +141 3. Georgia State 198 60 +138 4. Nevada 209 84 +125 5. San Diego State 262 138 +124 6. Cal. St. Northridge 205 83 +122 7. Central Michigan 217 101 +116 8. Pacific 168 53 +115 9. Md.-Baltimore Co. 280 169 +111 10. Hampton 248 139 +109
Fishing in November Steve Fisher's teams have been known for their fast starts, and no place is that better demonstrated than in his record in the month of November. Steve Fisher has coached teams to a 16-6 record (72.7 percent) in the month of November, including a perfect 8-0 record in November home games. The six games Fisher's teams have lost have come to some of the nation's premier programs: Arizona (three times: '89, '94 and '95), Arizona State ('95), Georgia Tech ('95) and New Mexico State ('00). In home contests, the veteran coach posted a 5-0 record in the month while with the Wolverines and then helped the Aztecs snap a six-game November slide with a 73-57 victory over UC Riverside last season. His victories over UC San Diego and New Mexico State this season have kept his home November record perfect. Beating a Fisher-coached team in the opening month is a good way to assure yourself a spot in postseason play. Of the six teams to defeat a Fisher coached squad in the month of Nov., five have advanced to NCAA tournament play and one (New Mexico State) to postseason NIT competition. All five of the teams to advance to the NCAA tournament had a seed of five or higher. Oddly enough, due to tough competition in early-season tournaments, Fisher's teams have a better November record on the road (3-1), than at neutral sites (5-5).
Comparing the Numbers Through two games, the improvement in San Diego State from last season and this season is apparent. In the season opener against UC San Diego, San Diego State shot 55.0 percent from the field, the highest total during the Fisher era. Through two games the Aztecs are shooting better from three-point range (37.1 percent) that their opponents' overall field goal percentage (36.3 percent). Below is a look at how other numbers from Saturday night stack up against last season. 1999-2000 2000-2001 Record 5-23 2-0 PPG 62.3 78.5 Opp. PPG 74.9 55.0 Scoring Margin -11.6 +22.5 FG Percentage 40.9 51.8 3FG Percentage 29.9 37.1 Free Throw Percentage 68.0 73.7 Opponent FG Percentage 45.6 36.3 Rebound Margin -6.3 +3.0 Turnover Margin -1.6 +8.5
Correa Hits Ninth Straight Shot Marcelo Correa is a perfect 9-for-9 from the field this season through two games. The senior center hit his only free throw attempt and has yet to miss a shot in 41 minutes of action this season. Against New Mexico State, the Franca, Brazil, native missed his fourth consecutive double-digit scoring game when he tallied six points and three rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
Noting the Aztecs San Diego State split a pair of exhibition games this preseason, falling to Branch West 83-82 on Nov. 1 and defeating L.A. Stars 90-71 on Nov. 8. The Aztecs took advantage of the two games to use different player combinations. Nine different players recorded at least 15 minutes of action. The balance carried over into the scoring column as only junior forward Randy Holcomb (24.5 ppg) and junior guard Karlo Kovacic (12.5 ppg) averaged in double figures. Four Aztec players -?Deandre Moore, Chris Walton, Myron Epps and Al Faux - averaged between 8.0 and 9.0 ppg while seven players scored between 3.5 and 9.0 ppg.
Fisher in Lidlifters Steve Fisher is 9-1 in season openers, including a 7-1 record while at Michigan. Fisher has claimed nine consecutive season opening games dating back to an 82-75 loss to Arizona in the Tip-Off Classic in the opening contest of the 1989-90 campaign.
Wired For Cox In Steve Fisher's first season, the Aztecs posted a 5-3 non-conference record in Cox Arena. That record was a substantial improvement on the 2-6 record the Aztecs posted in similar games in the 1998-99 season. With two more victories this season (UC San Diego and New Mexico State), the Aztecs are 7-3 in their last 10 non-conference home record, which equals their win total in the 16 non-conference home games prior to Fisher's arrival.
In the Driver's Seat Through two games and 80 minutes of basketball this season, San Diego State has trailed a total of 2:58. The Aztecs led wire-to-wire in the victory over UC San Diego and led a mjority of the game against New Mexico State. San Diego State has yet to trail in the second half of a game this season.
The Future Two more newcomers who will not play this season are transfers Tony Bland (a junior from Syracuse) and Brandon Smith (a senior-to-be from Michigan). Both players will be eligible for the 2001-02 season.
The Schedule San Diego State will play a school-record 17 home games (not counting two exhibitions) this season, including visits from New Mexico State and Arizona State (both were NIT participants last year) and Oklahoma State, coming off an appearance in the Elite Eight. The squad will also visit Fresno State, UC Santa Barbara and Loyola Marymount during the non-conference season.