Hoops season opens at home against Sunbirds

GAME 1: FRESNO STATE vs. FRESNO PACIFIC
November 2, 2026 | 6 p.m. PT | Fresno, Calif. | Save Mart Center

MEDIA COVERAGE
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Watch: YouTube
Play-by-play: Matt Norville | Sideline: Taylor Martinez
Radio: ESPN Fresno – 1430 AM
Play-by-play: Paul Loeffler | Color Analyst: Marc Q. Jones

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FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State men's basketball officially opens the 2026-27 season on Monday, Nov. 2, hosting crosstown opponent Fresno Pacific at the Save Mart Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT, with the game streaming live on YouTube.

The Bulldogs enter their third season under head coach Vance Walberg with a new-look roster and a new conference on the horizon. Fresno State will begin its inaugural Pac-12 campaign in January, marking a new chapter in program history after 14 seasons in the Mountain West.

Monday's matchup will mark the sixth meeting between the two programs, with Fresno State holding a 5-0 advantage in the all-time series.

BULLDOG BONES

Fresno State opens its 2026-27 campaign at home for the second consecutive season.
Head coach Vance Walberg enters his second season leading the Bulldogs.
Fresno State begins its inaugural season as a member of the Pac-12 Conference in 2026-27.
The Bulldogs went undefeated during their summer exhibition tour in the Bahamas, finishing 3-0 in the Summer of Thunder.
Fresno State returns to the Save Mart Center after hosting Cal State Fullerton in a preseason exhibition on Oct. 24.
The Bulldogs hold a 5-0 advantage in the all-time series against Fresno Pacific.
Fresno State defeated the Sunbirds 88-51 in last season's opener on Nov. 3, 2025.
The Bulldogs will play eight nonconference home games this season, including their annual Return to Selland matchup against Alabama State on Nov. 20.
Fresno State is scheduled to make 19 nationally televised appearances this season, including all 16 Pac-12 contests.
The Bulldogs will open conference play on Jan. 3, hosting Washington State at the Save Mart Center.

SERIES HISTORY

Fresno State leads the all-time series against Fresno Pacific, 5-0.
The Bulldogs have won each of the last four meetings by double digits.
Fresno State earned an 88-51 victory over the Sunbirds on Nov. 3, 2025, in the most recent matchup.
Monday's contest marks the second consecutive season that Fresno State will open its regular season against Fresno Pacific.

A NEW ERA BEGINS

Fresno State enters its inaugural season in the Pac-12 Conference after competing in the Mountain West since 2012.
The new-look Pac-12 features nine basketball programs, including Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, Washington State, San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State and Texas State.
The Bulldogs will play a 16-game conference schedule, facing each Pac-12 opponent once at home and once on the road.
Fresno State will officially open Pac-12 play on Jan. 3 against Washington State at the Save Mart Center.
The inaugural Pac-12 campaign will culminate at the conference championship, scheduled for March 9-13 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

NEW FACES IN THE VALLEY

Fresno State welcomes several newcomers to its 2026-27 roster, bringing experience from multiple Division I programs and international basketball leagues.
Ross Candelino joins the Bulldogs after spending the 2025-26 season at Lipscomb, where he averaged 11.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 41.7% from beyond the arc.
Baye Fall adds size to the frontcourt after previous stops at Arkansas, Kansas State and Rutgers. The 6-foot-11 center was a four-star prospect and McDonald's All-American coming out of high school.
Bradey Henige joins Fresno State after two seasons at California Baptist. The 7-foot center averaged 4.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game during his sophomore campaign while shooting 53.5% from the field.
Spanish point guard Roger Fabrega Urpina joins the Bulldogs after competing for Amics Castelló in Segunda FEB, where he led the league with 6.1 assists per game.
Serbian forward Marko Vučković arrives after playing for KK Dynamic, where he averaged 13.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 60% from the field.

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Players Mentioned

Ross Candelino

Roger Fabrega Urpina

Baye Fall

Bradey Henige

Fresno State Athletics