The Fresno State Bulldogs and the UC-Irvine Anteaters meet in college basketball action from the Bren Events Center on Saturday night.
The Fresno State Bulldogs will look to snap a five-game losing skid after their 67-59 loss to Vanderbilt last time out. Isaih Moore leads the Bulldogs in scoring and rebounding with 12.7 PPG and 8.7 RPG as the lone double-digit scorer for Fresno State up to this point in the season. Jemari Baker has 9.7 PPG while Jordan Campbell has a team-high 2.5 APG this season. As a team, Fresno State is averaging 58.5 PPG on 39.2% shooting from the field, 22.8% from three and 71% from the foul line this season.
The UC-Irvine Anteaters will look to rebound from a 72-69 loss to San Diego State last time out. DJ Davis leads UC-Irvine with 16.8 PPG while Dawson Baker has 13.5 PPG as the only other double-digit scorer for UC-Irvine so far this season. Bent Leuchten has 7 PPG with 7 RPG to lead the Anteaters on the glass while Pierre Crockrell II has a team-high 5.1 APG as well this season. As a team, UC-Irvine is averaging 81.5 PPG on 47.3% shooting from the field, 42.1% from three and 68.8% from the foul line this season.
Fresno State is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS loss while the under is 4-0-1 in their last 5 games overall. UC-Irvine is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall and 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 games following an ATS win while the over is 4-0 in their last 4 home games.
I get the case to be made for either side in this game as these are two defense-first teams, but side-by-side, the defenses are similar, the offense are not. UC-Irvine is far more consistent offensively while Fresno State’s yet to score more than 60 points against a D-I opponent this season. I think UC-Irvine wins by double digits here.