The Fresno State men's basketball team has not been what it once was in recent years, but a former standout has put everything he could into giving the program one night to remember.
Paul George, who played two years in the Central Valley before becoming the 10th overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft, bought every seat for the Bulldogs' home debut against the Cal State Northridge Matadors on November 17, according to the Fresno Business Journal. Given that his Indiana Pacers will be in the middle of a road trip, though, it will be up to the fans to fill the arena for him.
The Save Mart Center seats 15,596 patrons, but George's generosity marks the program's first sellout since the facility opened in 2003. By contrast, the average home attendance in the 2012-13 campaign was 7,042 and broke 8,000 only three times in 14 home dates. For a team that expects to be tested in a very competitive Mountain West, perhaps there's something to be said for at least making a good first impression in the new season.