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LARAMIE – He leads the Mountain West in 3-point shooting percentage (44.5) and is second on the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game.

But for University of Wyoming junior guard Jason McManamen, his biggest challenge and thrill is playing defense. The Torrington product, at 6-foot-5, often defends the opponents' best perimeter players and even some of their better inside guys.

"Taking a charge is always a big deal," McManamen said. "It's a foul on the other guy. Everyone gets excited about it, and we get the ball back.

"I think (playing defense) is more of a challenge going into every game, and a challenge I enjoy. I try and make that guy take more difficult shots than he usually has to take."

McManamen and UW (12-14 overall, 5-8 Mountain West) have a big challenge when they host Fresno State (16-9, 7-5) at 7 tonight at the Arena-Auditorium.

Senior guard Marvelle Harris, the preseason MW player of the year, is third in the MW in scoring (19.7 points per game), second in steals (2.1 per game) and first in assists (4.2 per game).

Harris scored a team-best 25 points in the Bulldogs' 71-60 home win over the Cowboys Jan. 26.

"He's one of the best players in the league who can score in a lot of different ways," McManamen said. "He's a good 3-point shooter and can shoot the mid-range jumper off screens. I will do my best to make him take difficult shots he may not want to take."

Harris was 8 of 18 from the field in the first game with UW, but he also made all seven of his free throws.

UW coach Larry Shyatt has been impressed with the development of Harris through the years, but what stands out to him is that he has 105 assists to just 50 turnovers this season.

McManamen will get plenty of chances to defend Harris tonight, but so will other UW players.

The Cowboys also will throw some zone defenses at the Bulldogs.

Depending on matchups and lineups, Shyatt said he feels comfortable having McManamen defend up to four of Fresno State's players.

"Jason doesn't try to be a want-to-be. He doesn't try to do things his way. He knows how we want to play on defense on and off the ball," Shyatt said. "He knows how important transition defense is.

"Does he make a mistake or two? Of course. But the edge he comes into every game with, and the consistency he brings us – whether he is guarding the point, a wing or an interior player – is a credit to his toughness and intellect. He's an illustration that playing defense is far more about intellect and heart than physical abilities."

Playing physical

One thing UW expects from Fresno State tonight is a physical game.

The Bulldogs have a plus-4 turnover margin and average 13.2 offensive rebounds per game – both tops in the MW.

In the first game, the Cowboys committed four more turnovers than the Bulldogs and were outrebounded 12-2 on the offensive glass.

"The big key is knowing going into the game that it will be physical," UW sophomore forward Alan Herndon said. "They're not going to give you anything easy. When you go to the hole, you have to expect someone to try and reach in and block your shot, and offensively they are going to crash the glass. You have to go in prepared for all that."

Injury report

Robert Kuwada, who covers Fresno State for the Fresno Bee, said junior forward Torren Jones (illness) won't play tonight. Junior forward Karachi Edo (wrist) and sophomore forward Terrell Carter II (illness) are doubtful.

Those three combine to average 24.1 points and 17.4 rebounds per game.

Edo had 11 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots in the first game against UW.

Junior wing Paul Watson (calf) is questionable. He was injured in the second half of last Wednesday's game against San Diego State, and didn't play in last Saturday's road game at Nevada.

Watson, at 6-7, averages nine points per game. Watson guarded UW senior guard Josh Adams for much of the second half in the first game.

Adams scored 32 points, but was 7 of 19 from the field, and 13 of his points came at the free-throw line. No other UW player scored in double figures in that first game.

As for UW, sophomore forward Hayden Dalton (ankle) is questionable.

Free throws

UW leads the MW and is 17th nationally with 9.7 3-pointers per game. It shoots 37.3 percent from behind the arc, which also leads the conference and is 57th nationally. ... The Cowboys trail the series with the Bulldogs 13-9, but are 8-2 in Laramie. Fresno State won last season's game at the A-A 64-59.