Sept. 9, 2009

PHOTO GALLERY: 2009-10 Men's Hoops Schedule Preview

SCHEDULE: 2009-10 Men's Basketball

PRESEASON PROSPECTUS: 2009-10 Fresno State Men's Basketball

FRESNO, Calif. - The 2009-10 Fresno State men's basketball schedule features 17 home games, including dates with a 2009 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Semifinalist and a pair of NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago. The Bulldogs will play one of their home games at Fresno's downtown Selland Arena for the first time since 2003 and meet another 2009 NCAA Tournament team in a neutral-site game in Los Angeles.

"I believe we have a balanced and competitive schedule that will test us early and prepare our team for a challenging WAC season," fifth-year Fresno State skipper Steve Cleveland said of his hometown Bulldogs' upcoming slate.

Early Non-Conference Slate
The Bulldogs open the season at home in the Save Mart Center for the fourth-straight year by hosting the San Francisco State Gators on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. The Dogs then play four of their next five games as part of the West Coast Classic, coordinated by Santa Clara University.

Fresno State starts the exempt tournament in Flagstaff against Northern Arizona (Nov. 17) and concludes the week with a non-tournament game in Key Arena versus Seattle University (Nov. 19).

The West Coast Classic, which brings together representatives of the Big Sky, Big West, Mountain West, Western Athletic and West Coast Conferences to play two home games and two road games over a two-week period, continues as the Bulldogs face San Diego State, Santa Clara and Pacific.

The Aztecs, who advanced to last season's semifinals of the National Invitational Tournament in Madison Square Garden during a SDSU school-record 26-10 campaign, visit Fresno for a Monday night meeting on Nov. 23 at 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs then spend the Thanksgiving weekend in the Bay Area for a contest with the Santa Clara Broncos (Nov. 28).

Bulldogs Return to Grant's Tomb
The start of December turns back the clock when the Dogs finish the Classic with a return to their old backyard, Selland Arena, where Fresno State recorded a dominating 407-136 record from 1967-2003.

The Bulldogs will host the Pacific Tigers for a special night in Boyd Grant's Tomb on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. It will be the 152nd meeting of the two schools, a continuation of the longest standing series between Fresno State and any other opponent.

The game was moved to Selland because of a late date change to the exempt tournament schedule and an event was already scheduled at the Save Mart Center.

"There is a bit of nostalgia as I reflect back on the basketball experiences I've had as a player, coach and fan in Selland Arena," Cleveland added with a distinct excitement. "There will be great energy in the building! Fans will enjoy this trip back in time."

Tickets for the game at Selland Arena will be included in the regular season ticket package. Season ticket holders will automatically receive information regarding this game in their renewal packet.

Grant, Fresno State's all-time winningest head coach with a 194-74 tally over nine seasons, will be honored during the evening in a special presentation.

Healthy Competition with Midseason Opponents
Fresno State ends the week back in the Save Mart Center with a Sunday matinee (Dec. 6) at 4 p.m. against the West Coast Conference's San Diego Toreros.

The Dogs then take a scenic drive over to the Malibu coastline for a Tuesday night date with Pepperdine on Dec. 8.

In one of the most highly anticipated road clashes of the season, Cleveland leads his Bulldogs into a unique single-game neutral-site showdown in Southern California's Galen Center with Brigham Young University on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. This will be Cleveland's first time competing against BYU.

"The BYU game is a great opportunity to compete against one of the elite programs in the country," Cleveland said of playing his former team that made a first round NCAA appearance last season. "I have great respect for their coaches and players."

The official Fresno State fan hotel will be the downtown Los Angeles Omni Hotel. Fans looking to start their holiday season in Southern California should call the Bulldog Ticket Office at 559-278-DOGS for affordable packages starting at $99/night and game tickets for as low as $20.

As the Cougars' head coach for eight seasons (1997-2005), Cleveland transformed the program into a consistent postseason contender. The three-time Mountain West Conference champion earned three trips to the NCAA Tournament and two appearances in the NIT with the Fresno-native at the helm. Over the course of his tenure in Provo, he collected a 138-108 mark, guided the development of NBA draft picks, fostered significant academic achievement and garnered 2003 MWC Coach of the Year honors.

Fresno State returns to the San Joaquin Valley by hosting UC Davis (Dec. 17) and North Dakota State, the 2009 Summit League Champions and NCAA Tournament team (Dec. 19).

The Dogs head back north for engagements in the Rocky Mountains with the Big Sky's Montana Grizzlies (Dec. 21) and the Pacific Northwest with the Pac-10's Oregon State Beavers (Dec. 23). In 2008-09, under first year head coach Craig Robinson, Oregon State ended a stark turnaround by winning 12 more games than 2007-08 and taking the title in the 2009 College Basketball Invitational (CBI) postseason tournament.

The Bulldogs finish 2009 in a home tilt with old WAC foe Colorado State on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.

The Quest for a WAC Championship
The start of 2010 keeps the Dogs at home for three conference games against Boise State (Jan. 2), Hawai'i (Jan. 9) and San Jose State (Jan. 11) to kick off the quest for the 2010 league title and a bid in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

"The WAC will be a veteran conference with only two notable seniors graduating from the entire conference," Cleveland said. "There is great parity throughout the league. We need to get off to a great start and develop the confidence to win close games at home and on the road in league play."

After the New Mexico State-Louisiana Tech trip (Jan. 14 and 16), the Bulldogs get their first shot at defending WAC Champion Utah State and runner-up Nevada on Jan. 21 and 23, respectively, as classes resume on campus.

Last season, in front of packed Save Mart Center crowds, Fresno State downed the Nevada Wolf Pack 68-66 in one of the best victories of the year and forced overtime with Utah State as junior forward Sylvester Seay sent the Red Wave into euphoria as he hit a 60-foot buzzer beater at the end of regulation.

Following a three-game road trip to Idaho (Jan. 28), Boise State (Jan. 30) and Hawai'i (Feb. 6), the Dogs play four of their next five games at home, including the completion of their non-conference slate.

The Stretch Run to Reno
Fresno State hosts NMSU on Feb. 11 and Idaho on Feb. 13 before making the drive up to Reno for a weeknight date with Nevada (Feb. 17). The final non-conference contests are back-to-back as the `Dogs stay at home for ESPNU'S BracketBusters event, with the opponent and date to be determined in February 2010, and a meeting with the independent Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners, who Fresno State beat 66-51 in 2008-09.

The last road trip of the season sends the Bulldogs up to San Jose State (Feb. 27) and east to the spirited Spectrum in Logan, Utah to start the extra madness on March 1.

The Bulldogs will hold Senior Night to conclude the 2009-10 regular season on March 4 at 7 p.m. in the Save Mart Center in the "Battle of the `Dogs" as Louisiana Tech visits town.

With an automatic bid to March Madness on the line, Fresno State returns to the Reno, Nev., for a shot at the conference title in the 2010 WAC Tournament on the floor of the Lawlor Events Center.

Every game during the 2009-10 season will be broadcast live on KMJ 580 AM, a production of Learfield Sports, with Bulldog play-by-play announcer Paul Loeffler calling the action.

Bulldog Sports Network (BSN) Television Schedule
In its fifth year of bringing the Bulldogs action on the hardwood to the Red Wave, the Bulldog Sports Network will broadcast seven men's basketball games live on KAIL-TV Digital 7.1 (MY 53) and MD Digital 7.1 on HDTV, the flagship station of Fresno State sports. Longtime television "Voice of the Bulldogs" Ralph Wood and legendary coach Bob Donewald return for another season behind the microphone.

In a first for the Bulldog Sports Network, the 2009-10 slate of broadcasts combines selected non-conference and WAC games as a way to see Fresno State men's basketball on television throughout the entire season.

Dec. 8 - at Pepperdine
Dec. 12 - vs. BYU (Galen Center)
Jan. 14 - at Louisiana Tech
Jan. 16 - at New Mexico State
Feb. 6 - at Hawai'i
Feb. 17 - at Nevada
Mar. 1 - at Utah State

Additional Fresno State Schedule Notes

When Fresno State hosts North Dakota State, the schools will play for only the second time ever as the only other meeting came back on November 23, 1983 (Fresno State won 83-54).

---

Full 2009-10 Fresno State Men's Basketball Schedule
November
4 (Wed) Fresno Pacific (Ex.)
13 (Fri) San Francisco State
17 (Tues) at Northern Arizona
19 (Thurs) at Seattle University
23 (Mon) San Diego State
28 (Sat) at Santa Clara

December
1 (Tues) +Pacific
6 (Sun) San Diego
8 (Tues) at Pepperdine [BSN]
12 (Sat) ^BYU [BSN]
17 (Thurs) UC Davis
19 (Sat) North Dakota State
21 (Mon) at Montana
23 (Wed) at Oregon State
28 (Mon) Colorado State

January
2 (Sat) *Boise State
9 (Sat) *Hawai'i
11 (Mon) *San Jose State
14 (Thurs) *at Louisiana Tech [BSN]
16 (Sat) *at New Mexico State [BSN]
21 (Thurs) *Utah State
23 (Sat) *Nevada
28 (Thurs) *at Idaho
30 (Sat) *at Boise State

February
6 (Sat) *at Hawai'i [BSN]
11 (Thurs) *New Mexico State
13 (Sat) *Idaho
17 (Wed) *at Nevada [BSN]
20 (Sat) ESPN BracketsBusters (TBD)
23 (Tues) Cal State Bakersfield
27 (Sat) *at San Jose State

March
1 (Mon) *at Utah State [BSN]
4 (Thurs) *Louisiana Tech
11-13 WAC Tournament (Reno, Nev.)
18-21 NCAA First/Second Rounds (TBD)
25-28 NCAA Sweet Sixteen/Elite Eight (TBD)

April
2-4 NCAA Final Four/Championship (TBD)

Ex. - Exhibition Game
+ at Selland Arena (Fresno, Calif.)
^ at Galen Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
* Western Athletic Conference Game
All home games in BOLD at Save Mart Center, except for Dec. 1 game (vs. Pacific)
All games/times are subject to change

---

"We Are Your Team" - The Fresno State men's basketball team returns to the hardwood for their 2009-10 season and home opener on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. For the latest ticket information, continue visiting www.gobulldogs.com.